National Urban League Conference In New Orleans, Confronts Historic Threats To Democracy, Civil And Human Rights, And The Rule of Law

National Urban League Conference, Convening In New Orleans, Confronts The Historic Threats To Democracy, Civil And Human Rights, And The Rule Of Law

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League
  

“Project 2025 is more than an idea, it's a dystopian plot that’s already in motion to dismantle our democratic institutions, abolish checks and balances, chip away at church-state separation, and impose a far-right agenda that infringes on basic liberties and violates public will. This is an unprecedented embrace of extremism, fascism, and religious nationalism, orchestrated by the radical right and its dark money backers. We need a coordinated strategy to save America and stop this coup before it’s too late,” – U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman.

As the National Urban League and our affiliates from across the nation head to New Orleans to open our 2024 Conference on Wednesday, we are facing the gravest threat in generations to civil and human rights, the foundations of democracy, and the rule of law. 
 
This threat lends an even greater urgency to the Conference, where the nation’s top advocates, activists, thought leaders, and elected officials will outline and refine a strategy to overcome this threat, while restoring and advancing the rights of women, communities of color, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized groups.

Among the many alarming policy proposals contained in Project 2025, the extremist right-wing agenda for the next presidency, the most alarming is a sweeping purge of the federal workforce.  Upstanding public servants would be replaced with partisan loyalists prepared to override traditional checks and balances.

In a grave misunderstanding of the Vice President’s constitutional duties, one of the major-party candidates for that office already has indicated he would reject a state’s electoral votes for an opposition candidate.

It’s no exaggeration to say the 2024 election could be the last free and fair presidential election of our lifetimes.

As part of the National Urban League’s historic commitment to civic engagement, voter mobilization has long been a key pillar of our mission. Never since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has that mission been more important.

To kick off the Conference, we invite members of the public to join us as we come together in solidarity to advocate for equality and justice at the Reclaim Your Vote Rally on Wednesday at Xavier University of Louisiana Athletics Convocation Center. 7900 Stroelitz Street, New Orleans.

Doors open at 3:30 PM; the Rally begins at 4 PM.  Attendees are encourage to wear HBCU or Urban League swag.

Those who can’t join us in person can participate remotely; the rally – along with other Conference events -- will be livestreamed on NUL.org.

Among the dynamic speakers are  former New Orleans Mayor and Biden Administration advisor Mitch Landreau, civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, author and radio host Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, rapper and activist YelloPain.

We will continue to spotlight the challenges we face and refine our response through Saturday, with the State of the Urban League Address on Thursday morning, and Friday morning’s Presidential Plenary-Election 2024: What’s at Stake? and other dynamic panel discussions, information-packed workshops and forums.

Check out the full schedule of events on the Conference website and continue the conversation on social media by following @NatUrbanLeague on all platforms.

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     29TBE 7/19/24 ▪ 80 Pine Street ▪ New York, NY 10005 ▪ (212) 558-5300

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