Federal Overreach Seeks to Undermine the Success of America's Black Mayors

By Marc Morial, The Philadelphia Tribune

“Public safety is people having a roof over their heads, good-paying jobs, strong schools, and accessible mental health care. That’s what safety looks like.” — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson

“The status quo has failed. We cannot police our way out of crime. We have to invest in people, prevention, and healing.”

— Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott

American cities reflect the soul of the nation. From their skylines and cultural institutions to their small businesses and neighborhoods, cities are where American identity is built, tested, and transformed. They are global symbols of innovation, diversity and resilience, and their leadership is central to the nation’s future.

For generations, Black mayors have shaped that future by fighting for equity, accountability, and justice. Their leadership has centered marginalized communities and expanded access to opportunity. Today, that legacy is as vital as ever.

This past week, misleading statements from national leadership describing the District of Columbia as overtaken by “violent gangs,” “roving mobs of wild youth,” and “drugged-out maniacs” evoked a familiar and troubling pattern. Once again, fear-based narratives are being used to justify federal overreach and to undermine local governance, particularly in cities led by Black mayors. These attacks are not only factually inaccurate, but they are also politically motivated, racially coded, and historically rooted.

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