60 Years Later, Racial Justice Backlash Imperils the Heart of Civil Rights Act

NEW YORK (July 2, 2024) ​-- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today issued the following statement in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

"As the National Urban League's 2024 State of Black America report made clear in alarming detail, the current racial justice backlash imperils the very heart of the most transformative legislation of the 20th century.

"Sixty years later, the relentless reversal of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies threatens the promises of the Act. Our ‘abiding commitment to freedom’ is undermined by discriminatory voting laws and racial gerrymandering. Our ‘pursuit of justice’ is derailed by persistent racism in policing and sentencing and barriers to financial services, housing and healthcare. Our ‘respect for human dignity’ is called into question by an unraveling social safety net and economic policies that uplift the wealthy at the expense of working families.
 

"The Civil Rights Act of 1964 has been transformative. Doors have been opened, and new access has been achieved. But the promise of full equality remains elusive.  This anniversary must be an occasion for Americans to reassert their commitment to racial justice and help steer the nation back onto the path the Civil Rights Act began to forge."