National Urban League Condemns Indictment of SPLC as Coordinated Attack on Civil Rights and Democracy

By Array Array , National Urban League
Published 11 AM EDT, Wed Apr 22, 2026
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NEW YORK (April 22, 2026) – National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the federal indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center:

“The National Urban League condemns in the strongest possible terms the indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a deeply troubling escalation in efforts to weaken and delegitimize the civil rights movement.

“Let us be clear: this action is not about accountability. It is about intimidation. It is about silencing organizations that have spent decades confronting hate, protecting vulnerable communities, and advancing justice under the law.

“The SPLC is a valued member of the Demand Diversity Roundtable convened by the National Urban League. Its work—documenting extremism, exposing violence, and defending civil rights—has helped make this nation safer, stronger, and more just. Targeting that work is a direct assault on the principles we stand for: equal opportunity, racial justice, and the fundamental right of every person to live free from fear and violence.

“This moment does not stand alone. It reflects a broader and deeply concerning effort to criminalize civil rights advocacy, distort truth, and punish those who challenge entrenched power.

“History teaches us that when institutions dedicated to justice are attacked, democracy itself is at risk. Attempts to distract from systemic failures by targeting civil rights organizations only deepen public mistrust and erode the rule of law.

“The civil rights community stands united. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.

“We will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. And we will not stand by while the institutions that safeguard our rights are weakened or dismantled.

“The National Urban League stands shoulder to shoulder with the Southern Poverty Law Center. Together, we will meet this moment as we always have—undaunted, unafraid, and unyielding in the fight for justice, equality, and our democracy.”