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State of National Emergency Declared by Civil Rights Group due to Assaults on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policies

Urban League of the Nation announces crisis state due to Trump's policies, conveying concerns over jeopardized civil rights advancements and assaults on multicultural initiatives.

State of National Crisis Declared by Civil Rights Group, Highlighting Assaults on Diversity,...
State of National Crisis Declared by Civil Rights Group, Highlighting Assaults on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policies

State of National Emergency Declared by Civil Rights Group due to Assaults on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policies

National Urban League Declares "State of National Emergency" Over Trump Administration's Policies

The National Urban League, a leading civil rights organisation in the United States, has declared a "state of national emergency" in response to the Trump administration's policies. The organisation views these policies as a deliberate and harmful rollback of civil rights and equity programs, particularly those focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

In a strongly worded statement, National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial condemned the rollback of federal civil rights protections, the defunding of departments that enforce equity, and the criminalization of diversity programs under Trump’s 2025 administration. Morial described these actions as weaponizing terms like “woke” to attack equity and inclusion and using public policies to undermine equal opportunity in America.

The organisation is actively resisting these policies through both legal and advocacy efforts. It joined in a lawsuit challenging multiple executive orders issued by Trump in January 2025 that significantly altered federal DEI and transgender rights policies, arguing these orders violate constitutional protections and federal law. Moreover, the National Urban League has sought but not received engagement from Trump administration officials and GOP congressional leaders to discuss these issues.

The League has aligned itself with lawmakers such as Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, who is advocating legislation (Equity in Governance Act) to codify DEI protections federally in response to the administration’s actions. The League’s 2025 State of Black America report, titled "State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights And Progress Under Attack," explicitly details how these federal rollbacks represent an urgent crisis and a threat to decades of progress on civil rights and inclusion.

The Trump administration's policies have faced criticism from various quarters. President Donald Trump vowed to target DEI and issued an executive order "Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing." However, Morial cited voter suppression, attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and cutbacks on Medicaid, food stamps, veterans' benefits, and education as issues that represent an assault on the idea of equal opportunity, racial justice, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Joshua Q. Nelson, a reporter for the website Digital, has been covering these developments. He focuses on politics, education policy, and the parental uprising in education. Nelson, a graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in Political Science, is an alum of the National Journalism Center and the Heritage Foundation's Young Leaders Program. You can follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn for updates on this ongoing story.

The National Urban League remains vigilant in its efforts to slow down the "Make America Great Again" movement and protect the gains of the last 70 years. The organisation continues to advocate for equal opportunity, racial justice, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, and encourages others to join in this fight.

  1. The National Urban League, following the Trump administration's policies, sees a threat to education-and-self-development and general-news, particularly DEI initiatives, which they believe are being deliberately undermined.
  2. Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, has openly criticized the Trump administration's policies, including the rollback of federal civil rights protections, the defunding of equity departments, and the criminalization of diversity programs.
  3. In light of these policy actions, the National Urban League has taken legal and advocacy measures, such as joining a lawsuit challenging executive orders altering federal DEI and transgender rights policies, and advocating for legislation like the Equity in Governance Act.

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