National Urban League says Black America is in a ‘state of emergency’ – New York Amsterdam News

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“Democracy is under siege,” National Urban League (NUL) President Marc Morial warned at a recent press conference. “What began as what we thought were fringe attacks on racial equity has now become national policy.
The news mainstream media just doesn’t cover. Racial justice journalism since 1909.

“We are in a state of emergency, and the National Urban League has a fundamental obligation to stand up for democracy, to stand up for diversity, and stand up for economic policies that defeat poverty.”
Morial called the press conference to announce the publication of “State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights, and Progress Under Attack,” the NUL’s 49th annual State of Black America report. NUL is one of the oldest organizations in the country advocating for economic and social justice, and in this new report, it is declaring that Black America is facing great danger.
“Our report this year is a warning and rallying cry as civil rights protections are being unraveled,” said Morial: “Democracy is under siege.”
The Donald Trump administration efforts are the culmination of years of efforts to weaken the Voting Rights Act, the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that ended race-conscious affirmative action in college admissions, the dismantling and privatization of government agencies, and the current president’s push for his “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which proposes permanent tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations.
NUL points to right-wing efforts to demonize terms like “woke” and phrases such as “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” It notes that far-right ideologues have helped undermine equality initiatives across the nation. It also observes that several states have enacted laws allowing voter suppression, federal agencies meant to protect civil rights are being weakened, and businesses and educational institutions fear penalties if they implement progressive policies supporting civil rights, especially for Black Americans.
The advocacy organization states that it has been organizing and working with a multiracial group of civic, social justice, and civil rights leaders to promote a more just America and defend democracy: “Essentially, we use this year’s report to call out the state of emergency and to add specifics around it. And we use this report as a call to action for people to stand up, whether through protests, litigation, political advocacy, community advocacy, selective purchasing, or whatever tactic people use. We want to stand up for American democracy. We want to stand up for equal opportunity and diversity, equity, and inclusion. We want to stand up for economic policies that have as a goal not poverty, but prosperity for all Americans.”
Calling the present status a “state of emergency” is not mere rhetoric, NUL contends. “The notion that we are living through a ‘state of emergency’ is not rhetorical flourish,” Morial said. “It is an honest reckoning with a government increasingly determined to sacrifice its founding principles — equality, liberty, and justice — rather than accept the truth of a diversifying nation and deliver equitable opportunity to all.”
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