NAACP Tells Student-Athletes to Avoid Florida’s Colleges After State Bans DEI Programs

Black student-athletes are being encouraged to avoid Florida’s public colleges and universities, says a letter sent by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker on March 11. The recommendation came after the University of Florida (UF) announced on March 1 that it would remove all of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, fire the staff, halt “DEI-focused contracts with outside vendors,” and reallocate the $5 million in its DEI fund. “To all current and prospective college student-athletes—the NAACP urges you to reconsider any potential decision to attend and compete at a predominantly white institution in the state of Florida,” said the letter signed by NAACP National Board of Directors Chairman Leon W. Russell and NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson....