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National Urban League Declares ‘State of Emergency’ for Black America in 2025 Report

July 17, 2025

The National Urban League has declared a "state of emergency" for democracy and civil rights in the United States in its 49th annual State of Black America report. The report, titled "State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights, and Progress Under Attack," warns of a coordinated campaign to reverse progress for Black Americans through voting rights suppression, dismantling of civil rights protections, and attacks on diversity initiatives. National Urban League President Marc H.

Who is affected

  • Black Americans
  • Women of color entrepreneurs (specifically those who received grants from the Fearless Fund)
  • Progressive candidates during the 2024 election cycle
  • Organizations with diversity and equity programs
  • Voters facing suppression of voting access

What action is being taken

  • The National Urban League has launched a new Equitable Justice and Strategic Initiatives division
  • The organization has established the 21 Pillars for Public Safety framework
  • The League is coordinating the Fair Budget Coalition to advocate for an inclusive FY2026 federal budget
  • The National Urban League, Lambda Legal, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund have filed legal challenges against executive orders targeting diversity and equity
  • The organization is conducting a broad campaign of legal challenges, advocacy, and community organizing

Why it matters

  • The report identifies what it describes as a deliberate attempt to reverse decades of civil rights progress
  • The systematic rollback of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 threatens democratic participation
  • The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division has been "hollowed out and repurposed" according to the report
  • There is a coordinated backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts
  • Digital extremism is rising, with accounts supporting progressive candidates being blocked without explanation
  • Organizations supporting women of color entrepreneurs are facing legal challenges

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer