NAACP Board of Directors Chair Leon Russell told NNPA Newswire that the civil rights organization’s Florida travel advisory isn’t a ban but a call to action against the state’s regressive and oppressive laws and policies that specifically target Blacks and other minorities.

Russell asserted that the advisory serves as a method to mobilize voters who are subjected to and tired of the anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion movement in the Sunshine State.

“Let’s understand what this advisory is. It is an advisory,” Russell said. “It is advising people who are coming into the state or who are thinking about coming into the state.”

The nation’s oldest civil rights organization issued the advisory on May 20 following Gov. Ron DeSantis signing a bill that blocked public colleges from using federal or state money on diversity programs.

Russell repudiated any claim that DeSantis’ latest attack on diversity was the last straw that caused the advisory.

He said it was a culmination of DeSantis and Florida’s GOP-controlled legislature’s overt attempts to erase Black history, the continued attacks on the LGBTQ community, and the banning of works by Black and minority authors and artists.

Russell also said the national organization agreed with the advisory following the NAACP’s state conference call for such action.

“It comes from the unrelenting assault on fundamental freedoms from the governor and his legislative body,” the NAACP said. NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson noted that “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ-+ individuals.”

“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,” Johnson asserted.

However, Russell reiterated that the NAACP isn’t encouraging a ban in Florida.

“It [the travel advisory] is advising them to look at what’s going on in Florida to determine if this is a place that they want to come. If this is a place that they want to be a part of. It doesn’t say, don’t come.”

Russell continued: “We’re not boycotting Florida. Quite frankly, it’s exactly the opposite. We’re saying to think about it if you do come. If you’re coming to an entertainment center, come to an entertainment center that supports diversity and inclusion.

“Come to an entertainment center that’s willing to put its name out there as support all groups.

“We’re saying to corporate America to think about what they do. Think about their investors. Support diversity and inclusion, but don’t support policies that are regressive and create discrimination, or policies that foster discrimination.”

Russell added that the NAACP recently met with about 40 partner organizations, many of whom have upcoming events in Florida.

“We’re saying to those organizations that they should come, but they should speak up. They should speak up about these regressive policies,” Russell insisted.

Just as important, Russell said the NAACP wants everyone to know about public policies that might impact individuals wherever they visit.

“We want you to look at Florida’s adoption of permit-less carry with no training required. We’ve had people ask should Black folks bring guns to Florida,” Russell said. “That’s not what we’re saying. We’re saying to take precautions. But the real thing is to start to question the political situation in Florida.

“They’ve got to get organized. That’s the only way to change these policies. Get involved in the political situation. It’s not just about the presidential campaign. It’s about elective offices across the state, from school boards to mayors, to governors.

“We are making sure we organize and that people are educated and registered and voting in every election

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* This article was originally published here

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) launched the rebranded Be Fierce.Take Control.™ campaign during Lupus Awareness Month with rebranded imagery to connect with young Black and brown women at greater risk of developing lupus in their lifetime. The campaign empowers women to take control of their health, highlights common lupus symptoms and encourages those that may be experiencing symptoms to talk to their healthcare providers.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system can’t tell the difference between healthy tissues and foreign invaders. This can cause pain, inflammation and tissue damage to any organ in the body, and it impacts each person differently making it difficult to diagnose.

Be Fierce. Take Control.™ is a digital awareness campaign that aims to reach young, undiagnosed, Black/African American and Hispanic/Latina women who may be experiencing common lupus symptoms such as:

• Joint pain or swelling
• Extreme exhaustion
• A rash across the face
• Recurring sores in the mouth

The primary goal of the Be Fierce. Take Control. campaign, which is funded in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is to ultimately reduce the average time for diagnosis of six years from when a person first notices symptoms. Lupus is two-to-three times more prevalent in Black and brown women. Because of these disparities and the impact of lupus on the body, the LFA encourages women experiencing these symptoms to stop ignoring them and talk to their healthcare provider. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to preventing long-term consequences of the disease and improving quality of life.

“Six months prior to my diagnosis, I had recurring skin infections and a rash across my cheeks that I mistook for sunburn. I was also experiencing hair loss and body swelling. I was finally diagnosed with lupus nephritis after an ER visit, three doctors visits and a kidney biopsy,” said Selena Colon, lupus warrior and Be Fierce. Take Control. campaign ambassador. “Not knowing what my future holds worries me sometimes, but I prioritize my health and take control of the condition and the effects it has on me. ‘Be Fierce. Take Control.‘ is my personal slogan as well.”

The campaign website and digital advertising has been rebranded with powerful imagery of real women with lupus and women who have a personal connection to lupus. Like Selena, these women also share details of their personal lupus journey, providing a sense of connection for women learning more about common lupus symptoms and wondering if they have lupus.

The LFA encourages women experiencing symptoms to visit befiercetakecontrol.org and learn more about lupus, what questions to ask yourself, and how to have a conversation with your healthcare provider. 

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* This article was originally published here

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division (Justice) jointly released a Resource on Confronting Racial Discrimination in Student Discipline.

The Departments recognize and appreciate school administrators, teachers, and educational staff across the nation who work to administer student discipline fairly, and to provide a safe, positive, and nondiscriminatory educational environment for all students, teachers, and other educators.

The Resource demonstrates the Departments’ ongoing commitment to the vigorous enforcement of laws that protect students from discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in student discipline.

The Resource provides examples of the Departments’ investigations of such discrimination over the last 10 years, reflecting the long-standing approach and continuity in the Departments’ enforcement practices over time and the continuing urgency of assuring nondiscrimination in student discipline in our nation’s schools.

“OCR remains committed to ensuring nondiscrimination in disciplinary practices,” said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon. “I look forward to ongoing work in, and with, schools to ensure that no student experiences unlawful discrimination, including with respect to discipline.”
“

Discrimination in school discipline can have devastating long-term consequences on students and their future opportunities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division uses our federal civil rights laws to protect students from discriminatory discipline, including discrimination in suspensions and expulsions, law enforcement referrals and school-based arrests.

“The investigations that we describe demonstrate how students may experience discrimination based on multiple facets of their identities and reflect our joint commitment to fully protect all students.”

The Resource describes how the Departments resolved investigations of 14 school districts in 10 states nationwide – Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah.

These investigations, conducted under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its regulations, and Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, involved concerns of discrimination in schools’ use of out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, school-based arrests, referrals to law enforcement, involuntary discipline transfers, informal removals, and other discipline against Black, Latino, and/or Native American students.

The Resource demonstrates ways school districts can take steps to proactively improve their administration of student discipline.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), Office of Safe & Supportive Schools Technical Assistance Centers released a series of fact sheets on how school leaders and members of school communities may support students’ social, emotional, behavioral, and academic well-being and success. The fact sheets are: “Supporting Students’ Social, Emotional,

Behavioral, and Academic Well-Being and Success” through:

Strategies for Student and Teacher Support Teams;
Strategies for Educators and School-Based Staff;
Strategies for Schools to Enhance Relationships with Families;
Strategies for School and District Leaders.

You can find the fact sheets here. OESE Technical Assistance Centers will host webinars on each of the “Supporting Students’ Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Academic Well-Being and Success” fact sheets on the dates/times noted below and you can find registration information below. More information is available here:

Introduction to the Department’s Guiding Principles for Creating Safe, Inclusive, Supportive, and Fair School Climates.
August 9, 2023, 3:00 pm ET

Strategies for School and District Leaders
August 23, 2023, 3:00 pm ET

Strategies for Schools to Enhance Relationships with Families
September 20, 2023, 3:00 pm ET

Strategies for Educators and School-Based Staff
October 4, 2023, 3:00 pm ET

Strategies for Student and Teacher Support Teams
October 18, 2023, 3:00 pm ET

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* This article was originally published here