Alpha Phi Alpha

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity has announced it will relocate its convention that was scheduled to take place in 2025 due to new laws signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The fraternity’s general president made the announcement on Wednesday and said DeSantis has created “harmful, racist, and insensitive policies against the Black community.”

“Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has an unmatched legacy of social justice, advocacy, and leadership for the Black community,” General President Dr. Willis Lonzer said in a statement. “In this environment of manufactured division and attacks on the Black community, Alpha Phi Alpha refuses to direct a projected $4.6 million convention economic impact to a place hostile to the communities we serve.

“Although we are moving our convention from Florida, Alpha Phi Alpha will continue to support the strong advocacy of Alpha Brothers and other advocates fighting against the continued assault on our communities in Florida by Governor Ron DeSantis.”

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity also said the recent relocation of the convention comes after the State Board of Education approved new academic standards for instruction about African American history last week.

Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. pushed back on assertions by groups such as the Florida Education Association teachers union and the NAACP Florida State Conference that the standards “omit or rewrite key historical facts about the Black experience” and ignore state law about required instruction.