Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the nation’s largest and oldest Black fraternity, announced on Wednesday that it was relocating its 2025 conference from Orlando, Florida, in response to Governor Ron DeSantis’ “harmful, racist, and insensitive policies against the Black community.”
The announcement came on the first day of the fraternity’s 97th convention being held in Dallas, Texas. With the theme of “Strengthening the Brotherhood and Standing for Social Justice,” the current convention highlights the continued call for justice on behalf of African Americans and other marginalized communities.
On Monday, fraternity leadership joined Dallas-Ft. Worth area Alpha Phi Alpha chapters as well as other Divine 9 Dallas chapters in a protest march that culminated with a rally of hundreds at City Hall.
“Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has an unmatched legacy of social justice, advocacy, and leadership for the Black community,” said General President Dr. Willis L. Lonzer, III.
“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.”
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The announcement is the latest rebuke to the Florida Board of Education’s decision to approve a controversial new K-12 curriculum for African American history, which attempts to reshape and minimize the impact of the barbaric institution, going so far as to suggest that African Americans benefitted from their enslavement.
In May, the NAACP issued a travel advisory against Florida. “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,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson stated.
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