Bahamas Issues Travel Advisory Over US Police Shootings

In a reversal of how this kind of thing normally works, the Bahamas issued a travel advisory Friday to its citizens visiting the US, NBC News reports. According to BBC, the advisory was brought on by the deadly week in the US. Or as the Bahamas' Ministry of Foreign Affairs puts it: the "shootings of young black males by police officers." The advisory states: "In particular young males are asked to exercise extreme caution in affected cities in their interactions with the police. Do not be confrontational, and co-operate." Bahamians, who are 90% black, are also advised not to join protests and to avoid crowds. Monday is a national holiday in the Bahamas, and many residents are expected to travel to the US for vacation.

While the US has issued similar travel advisories to citizens heading to places like Laos and Nicaragua, it's relatively rare for the country to be on the receiving end of such warnings, the Washington Post reports. However, France warned its citizens about traveling to St. Louis, Baltimore, and Cleveland during riots last summer. And Canada and Germany have issued travel advisories in the past regarding US gun violence. The US also has a travel advisory out for the Bahamas. It warns travelers to avoid "jet-ski rentals on New Providence or Paradise islands." (More Bahamas stories.)