National Urban League Commends President Biden's Plans to Convene an Anti-Hate Summit

WASHINGTON, DC (August 19, 2022) – Today, Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, applauded President Biden for answering the call of the National Urban League and its partners to organize a hate crimes summit to address the growing threat of violent extremism, domestic terrorism, and hate-fueled violence in our country.

“The murderous attack in Buffalo, NY by a white supremacist, the Synagogue shooting in Pennsylvania, bomb threats against Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the heinous attack against Asian women in Atlanta are just a few examples that prove the threat of hate-fueled violence and extremism is growing at a rapid pace. Set on the anniversary of the tragic 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963, the United We Stand Summit will give officials from all levels of government, faith leaders, civil society groups, and directly impacted communities across the country the opportunity to address these issues firsthand. We commend President Biden for his leadership in organizing this summit and giving these groups a platform to acknowledge the lasting impact these incidents have on our communities. This is a necessary first step to addressing the spread of violence and preserving our democracy.

“The rise of hate groups and the increase in the number of hate crimes in the United States has fueled an epidemic, one that has plagued Black and Brown communities for centuries. In 2020, a year marked by a world-wide pandemic, the death of George Floyd and the resurgence of the social justice movement, the F.B.I. reported a surge in hate crimes – more than half targeting Black Americans. Fighting this threat requires government, civil society, industry – the entire nation – to act; which is why the National Urban League joined the National Action Network, the Anti-Defamation League and other human rights organizations and sent a letter to President Biden in May urging him to convene this summit.

“On behalf of the Urban League movement and its 92 affiliates, we look forward to working alongside the Biden administration and our partners in the movement to come up with meaningful solutions to reduce these threats.”