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The largest and oldest civil rights organisation in the United States has issued a formal advisory warning travelers to Florida that the state is “openly hostile” towards Black people, people of colour and LGBT+ people. An advisory issued by the NAACP on 20 May comes as a response to a series of laws signed by Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis targeting classroom instruction around race and racism, gender and sexuality, and bills and administration policy aimed at LGBT+ people. “Let me be clear – failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all,” NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement. “Under the leadership of Governor Desantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon,” he added. “He should know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are prepared to stand up and fight. We’re not backing down, and we encourage our allies to join us in the battle for the soul of our nation.” The advisory states that “due to this sustained, blatant, relentless and systemic attack on democracy and civil rights, the NAACP hereby issues a travel advisory to African Americans, and other people of color regarding the hostility towards African Americans in Florida.” On 17 May, Gov DeSantis approved a slate of bills that restrict gender-affirming care for minors, threaten drag shows, forbid people from using bathrooms that match their gender identity, and prevent people from using their chosen pronouns at schools. The legislation also follows administration policy targeting affirming healthcare for trans youth, over the objections of major health organisations and LGBT+ advocates. Mr DeSantis also recently expanded a measure labelled by opponents as the “Don’t Say Gay” law prohibiting classroom instruction on issues related to gender and sexuality, which critics argue will have a chilling effect on LGBT+ people in schools as part of an effort to erase LGBT+ people from public life. Mr DeSantis, who is reportedly preparing to launch his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024, also has spearheaded a series of measures around honest discussions of race and racism in schools, including a law that blocks public spending on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Florida also is at the centre of a nationwide trend of challenges against books and materials in libraries and schools. This week, Penguin Random House and several prominent authors and families filed a federal lawsuit against a school district where activists have challenged dozens of books, largely involving or written by people of colour or LGBT+ people. In April, advocacy group Equality Florida issued a similar travel advisory that warned that the state may “not be a safe place to visit or take up residence”. “As an organization that has spent decades working to improve Florida’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive place to live work and visit, it is with great sadness that we must respond to those asking if it is safe to travel to Florida or remain in the state as the laws strip away basic rights and freedoms,” according to a statement from Nadine Smith, Equality Florida’s executive director. The Independent has requested comment from the governor’s office. Read More Disney cancels $1bn Florida theme park extension amid war with DeSantis Penguin Random House sues Florida school district over ‘unconstitutional’ book bans DeSantis v Disney: Why Florida’s governor is at war with the Mouse

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Lando Norris says Formula One drivers are never operating at 100 per cent and has called on the sport’s rule-makers to make the cars lighter. The McLaren driver, 23, is now in his fifth season in F1 and has emerged as one of the strongest drivers on the grid. But the British star admits he has some frustration with the cars and feels they limit how the drivers can perform. “It is frustrating. It feels like you drive so slow,” Norris said ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. “You just feel like you are not driving at 100 per cent. You still have to drive at 95 per cent as well as you can.” “There are still differences between drivers of achieving that, how you drive at 95 per cent. You still see differences between how Lewis (Hamilton) can do it and how a rookie can do it. “You never drive at 100 per cent in the race because if you have one slide you’re done. You are just managing your tyres and your temperatures. “It is just the way things are. I’m sure in other categories it is similar-ish but you just want to be able to race closer. “I would make the cars lighter, as simple as that. You make them quicker by being lighter, you then remove some of the aero stuff which is now what makes them so impressive. “You remove some of that and it stops dirty air as much and then you will be able to follow better.” Regulation changes set to come into effect in 2026 are expected to reduce the weight of the cars and also make the tyres thinner. Norris is hopeful this is the case and believes the onus is on each team to get the car right for when the new rules are introduced. It for this reason that Norris has huge admiration for Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s domination of the sport over the last two seasons, amid criticism that it is bad for F1. “They are doing a better job. That is what F1 is about,” Norris added. “It is not just about the driver; F1 is one of very, very few sports in the world where there is so much talked about the driver but it is very much a team sport.” “It is not just who is the best driver, it does not work like that. It is about the machine and the driver. “That is the competition of F1, it is who can build and design the best cars. At the minute Red Bull are doing it, so hats off to them.” Norris disagrees with the opinion that people will turn away from F1 if Verstappen keeps winning, making the comparison with Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. “People do not find F1 boring,” Norris said. “Of course you want excitement for the win. That is the pinnacle of it, like Lewis against Max in 2021. That is probably the most exciting season in a very, very long time. “When Usain Bolt was winning every race, it’s boring because you want to see a close win. “But do you stop watching that because Bolt is winning? You don’t, you watch it because you are still like, ‘he is doing an amazing job and congratulations to him’. “People shouldn’t stop watching because someone is doing so well.” Read More Max Verstappen storms to Japanese Grand Prix pole ahead of impressive Oscar Piastri Max Verstappen pips Oscar Piastri to pole after tense qualifying for Japanese GP A sudden drop off or just a blip? Max Verstappen provides the answer ‘It’s real’: Lewis Hamilton in state of shock after Japanese GP qualifying Max Verstappen storms to Japanese GP pole ahead of impressive Oscar Piastri Max Verstappen pips Oscar Piastri to pole after tense qualifying for Japanese GP

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