National Urban League warns of "state of emergency," citing civil rights setbacks and attacks on democracy under Trump.

Urban League Raises Alarm Over Civil Rights and Democracy

The National Urban League has issued a stark warning in its latest “State of Black America” report, declaring a nationwide “state of emergency” for civil rights and democratic progress. The 2025 report, titled “State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights, and Progress Under Attack,” is highly critical of the Trump administration’s policies, alleging a concerted effort to undermine hard-fought gains for Black Americans and marginalized communities.

The report contends that, since January 20, 2025, the federal government “has set fire to policies and entire departments dedicated to protecting civil and human rights, providing access to an equal education, fair housing, safe and effective healthcare, and ensuring that our democratic process is adhered to across the nation.” The National Urban League claims that these actions amount to a systematic rollback of civil rights infrastructure and threaten foundational American principles.

Marc Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, emphasized the seriousness of the crisis, stating, “The notion that we are living through a ‘state of emergency’ is not rhetorical flourish. 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.”

White House Pushes Back Against Accusations

The White House swiftly rejected the allegations. Spokesman Harrison Fields called the report divisive, arguing, “These so-called civil rights groups aren't advancing anything but hate and division, while the President is focused on uniting our country, improving our economy, securing our borders, and establishing peace across the globe.” Fields pointed to President Trump’s strong support among Black voters in the recent election, accusing Democrats of abandoning their commitments in favor of “illegals, the pronoun police, purple-haired lunatics, and radical anti-Semites.”

The Urban League’s report specifically highlights changes within the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, asserting it has been transformed from a “guardian of justice into a tool for political retribution.” According to the report, this shift represents more than bureaucratic decline, describing it as an “existential threat to civil rights enforcement, allowing discrimination to flourish unchecked under the false guise of ‘reverse racism.’”

The report, which includes contributions from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other lawmakers, also champions the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. “DEI policies don’t just level the playing field in education and employment; they fortify democracy itself,” the report says, stressing that equitable access and leadership pipelines are crucial for a healthy democracy.

As the debate over civil rights and equity intensifies in Washington, the National Urban League calls on the nation to recommit to the values of equality, liberty, and justice, warning that the stakes for Black Americans—and for the country as a whole—have rarely been higher.