As the National Urban League prepares for the July 14 opening of its annual conference in Cleveland, Ohio, NUL President Marc Morial calls the organization’s 2025 State of Black America report “a call to action.”
“A democracy willing to destroy itself rather than deliver justice is a democracy in crisis,” Morial states in a release on the report, which is entitled “State of Emergency: Civil Rights, Democracy & Progress Under Attack.”
“In the face of this chilling reality, [the State of Black America] not only outlines the threats to American democracy’s foundations, but it also illuminates the power of resistance,” said Morial.
“Across courtrooms and classrooms, from statehouses to boardrooms, a new generation of leaders is rising to defend the gains we’ve made and push for the progress still to come.
“The work is difficult. The road is long. But we know from experience that the arc of history does not bend toward justice on its own— it must be bent by those with the strength and will to see it through.”
According to the report, a coordinated campaign to reverse decades of progress is being waged against African Americans. This includes:
-In 2025, federal departments protecting civil rights have been defunded, voting protections rolled back, and diversity programs criminalized.
-Far-right actors have weaponized the term “woke” to attack civil rights, equity, and even historical truth.
The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, once a champion for justice, is now a tool for political retaliation.
According to the NUL, social media platforms rolling back safety policies have led to a surge in hate speech “and progressive voices are being silenced.”
Contributors to this year’s report range from civil rights leaders and attorneys to elected officials who share a commitment to defending democracy, fighting for diversity, and protecting the progress of the Civil Rights movement.
Several civil rights leaders joined Morial in denouncing the Budget Reconciliation Bill during the Essence Festival in New Orleans last week.
Attorney Damon Hewitt said, “it’s time to turn up the volume and fight back.”
“Whether it be repeal and replace, whether it be the appropriations process. Now is the time for moral clarity. Now is the time for accountability. This is a place where industries like health care, education are going to take big hits,” said Hewitt.
“We’re not quitting. We’re not rolling over. We’re not letting this happen without a fight. And we will prevail. Because that’s what we do. We are resilient people, and we’ve been through a lot, and we’ve demonstrated that we get through it together.
Morial stated, “This is not business as usual.”
“This is an emergency. The National Urban League urges vigilance, mobilization, solidarity, and support. This year’s State of Black America is a call to action to stand together as we defend our rights and the principles of American democracy in our courts, our communities, and our coalitions,”