There has been a lot of talk about celebrities boycotting the state of Florida until they repeal their controversial “Stand Your Ground” law.
And, thankfully, most of the talk is true. Entertainers are using their celebrity to protest the self-defense law that begets more violence than it actually prevents. It’s the same law that put Florida mother Marissa Alexander behind bars for 20 years for defending herself, but left many individuals free after shooting and killing their victims.
Most notably George Zimmerman, who was acquitted of killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, and even though the Stand Your Ground law wasn’t considered in the defense team’s evidence, a juror used the law to justify her verdict.
Some stars who understand the gravity that these laws hold have agreed to stop performing in the state of Florida. They include Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Usher, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige and will.i.am to name a few. And while we can’t confirm big names like Jay Z, Rihanna, or the Rolling Stones (who are also on this list), we’re sure they’ll soon follow suit.
But what would happen if Floridian things in Florida just stopped happening? What if Floridians boycotted Florida? Or…if the nation acted like Florida didn’t even exist.
For example:
What if LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the rest of the Miami Heat basketball team refused to play or make appearances in their own state?
Florida would lose a lot of money, that’s for sure. The Miami Heat is valued at $625 million.
Or if every celebrity stopped hosting parties in Miami…
Death to LIV, Mansion or Cameo!
What if we all decided to go to Disney Land in California instead of Disney World in Orlando…
The horror!
Or ate oranges from Brazil instead of the state they are synonymous with…
Which we probably do anyway…
What if every promising and existing college student initiated a strike on all Florida Universities?
Who wants to study political science in a state where the faulty presidential election of 2000 came to a climatic end?
Or, what if we stopped listening to Flo Rida’s music…since his name is really just stinky ol’ Florida.
Ok, ok. We take that back.
But in all seriousness, we can boycott, ask that celebrities not perform or support Florida, and avoid all things associated with the state, but the real change is going to come from directing that attitude towards the 25+ states that also have Stand Your Ground laws on the books.
Change will come from unity, it will come with time. It will come with pressuring our governments and inciting a real talk about race relations in America. Waging an economic war on Florida just won’t do.
But it’s a start. Let’s keep up the momentum.
