U.S. civil rights organization the NAACP issued a travel advisory for the state of Florida on Saturday, May 20, saying the state is "openly hostile" to African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ people.

The group joins the League of United Latin American Citizens and gay-rights group Equality Florida who have also issued advisories for the state.

The NAACP is warning states: "Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color."

Florida has the fourth-largest economy in the United States and visitors to the state contributed nearly $102 billion to Florida's economy.

Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to announce his candidacy for president this week. Under his leadership, the state has banned high school students from taking an advanced placement course on African-American history.

Florida also approved anti-immigration laws that require certain employers to check the immigration status of new employees and forces hospitals to ask patients about their immigration status. Undocumented migrants are also prohibited from driving a car in the state even if they have a license from another state. Police can also charge someone with human trafficking if they aid in helping to transport an undocumented migrant across state lines.

The state has also passed policies that ban teaching anything related to sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, for all grades, in what critics call the "Don't Say Gay" law.

The NAACP's travel advisory was first proposed by the organization's Florida conference. The National board approved the measure based on DeSantis' "unrelenting attacks on fundamental freedoms".

The AP and CNN has requested comment from DeSantis but so far he has not responded.

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