Black fraternity moves convention from Florida, citing ‘racist’ DeSantis policies

A historically black fraternity relocated its 2025 national conference from Orlando, Florida, citing state policies it claims are harmful to black Americans.

Alpha Pi Alpha moved the conference, its 99th General Convention and 119th Anniversary Convention, “due to Governor Ron DeSantis’ harmful, racist, and insensitive policies against the Black community,” according to a July 26 news release.

“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,” APA General President and biochemist Willis Lonzer stated in the release.