National Urban League Declares a State of Emergency for Black Americans

The newly released National Urban League’s 2025 State of Black America report takes a deep dive into an unprecedented extremist, anti-diversity movement to undermine Democracy and erase 60 years of freedoms gained under the Voting Rights Act. 

In 2025 alone, federal departments protecting civil rights have been defunded, voting protections rolled back, and diversity programs criminalized while far-right actors have weaponized the term “woke” to attack civil rights, equity, and even historical truth. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, once a champion for justice, is now a tool of political retaliation. 

“This is not business as usual,” said Marc Morial, President of the National Urban League. “This year’s report 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.”

The Erasure of Equity

The National Urban League says the Voting Rights Act of 1965, once considered the real birth of American democracy, is under siege. Since January, the federal government has:

• Gutted civil rights protections across education, housing, healthcare, and voting

• Dismissed cases protecting election integrity

• Attacked Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, arguing that race-based claims violate the Constitution, threatening voters’ ability to fight discriminatory laws

The erosion of civil rights protections is seen as a coordinated assault on marginalized communities and the Urban League says disenfranchisement risks are growing due to:

• Gerrymandering

• Barriers to multilingual voting materials

• Restrictions on mail-in and early voting

The War on “Woke”

After George Floyd’s murder, calls for racial justice were reframed by far-right forces as an attack on American values which has led to:

• Lawsuits undermining affirmative action (e.g., Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard/UNC).

• Shutting down DEI initiatives, including the Fearless Fund, which supported women of color entrepreneurs.

• Federal mandates dismantling university and corporate diversity programs.

The National Urban League says the Trump administration is using the government to push a narrow, exclusive identity onto public institutions—and it's starting to look pretty authoritarian.

Radicalization of the DOJ Civil Rights Division

According to the National Urban League, the nomination of Harmeet Dhillon, a known election denier, to lead the DOJ’s civil rights division exemplifies this shift. The Department of Justice, under new leadership, has transformed from an enforcer of justice into a political weapon:

• Cases against election deniers were dismissed

• January 6th rioters received pardons

• DOJ withdrew support from voting rights litigation

• The Civil Rights Division is now targeting DEI programs for investigation

The National Urban League says all of this has resulted in unchecked discrimination masquerading as a fight against “reverse racism,” and a weakened infrastructure for enforcing equality.

Why DEI is Essential to Democracy

The National Urban League says without DEI, democracy becomes brittle. It presents DEI as a pillar of a thriving, inclusive society.

• Rooted in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, DEI initiatives combat systemic barriers in education, employment, and government.

• DEI fosters civic engagement, informed electorates, and leadership pipelines from underrepresented communities.

• Programs like civic internships and equitable education help individuals participate in democracy and resist authoritarianism.

• Representation in institutions builds trust in governance and reinforces the democratic principle of government by and for all people.

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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.

You can read the full report including action steps and tools at stateofblackamerica.org.