NEW YORK (March 30, 2026) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued he following statement in response to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth striking Black and female officers from a promotion list:

“It is reprehensible that this administration, driven by racial and gender bias and a deliberate effort to weaponize and mischaracterize DEI, refuses to recognize and celebrate the sacrifices of highly qualified military leaders. The decision to block the promotion of four exceptionally accomplished Army officers—two Black men and two women—not only contradicts our nation’s longstanding commitment to honoring those who serve, but also undermines the strength and integrity of our armed forces.

The Springfield Urban League (Springfield, IL) hosts a HBCU College & Cultural tour each year over spring break, offering high school students an enriching experience that exposes them to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as well as other culturally significant historical and national landmarks. This tour is designed to inspire and educate students, broadening their horizons and deepening their understanding of their heritage and history.

During the recent 2026 HBCU Tour, “The South Got Something to S.A.Y.,” six of the participating students received on-the-spot college acceptances, four to Tuskegee University and two to Tennessee State University, while traveling on the bus.

Kroger invested thousands into the Louisville Urban League's (Louisville, KY) urban farming initiative on Wednesday (March 25th).

The investment will help develop the initiative's farm infrastructure, deliver cooking and nutritional education, provide farming education workshops and support its entrepreneurship program, according to the Urban League. The initiative, called Project Kilimo, aims to strengthen community health, economic empowerment and food equity.

"The West End continues to face significant barriers to healthy food access, and the Urban League is committed to tackling food insecurity and wellness on multiple fronts," President and CEO Lyndon Pryor said. "Through policy advocacy, addressing childhood obesity, securing local plots to provide community gardens, and community partnerships like this one, the League is helping to close the gap on food insecurity."

Congressman Wesley Bell joined the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) at Lambert Airport Saturday morning (March 28th) to distribute gift cards to TSA workers who have been struggling financially during the partial government shutdown.

The Urban League provided $50,000 worth of gift cards for groceries, toiletries and gas to workers who have gone without pay. Michael P. McMillan, President and CEO of the Urban League, said the organization used the workers' union as a conduit to get resources directly to employees.

"We are supporting our TSA agents with a $50,000 contribution of Schnucks gift cards for groceries, of course, and toiletries and other resources. And then gas cards because of course they have not been paid," McMillan said.

Dennis Blockton, treasurer of AFGE Local 912, said the impact on his members has been severe.

As America marks its 250th year, democracy faces consequential tests. Americans need clear information—as they engage in their communities with public officials and candidates seeking to hold public office—about where public officials and candidates stand on upholding the nation’s Constitution.

To read the full guide, click here.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

"The SAVE Act is not an election security bill — it is a voter suppression bill, full stop ... The CBC will not sit back while extremists continue to strip away access to the ballot box for our communities, and we are calling on every Senator to reject this assault on our democracy and stand up for the integrity of our elections." — Congressional Black Caucus 

Analysis after analysis shows that the Trump administration's voter suppression legislation will keep millions of Americans from voting.

But pointing out that the bill will disenfranchise huge swaths of the electorate will not deter its proponents—because mass disenfranchisement is the goal.

NEW YORK (March 25, 2026) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the United States' vote against a United Nations resolution on the transatlantic slave trade:

"The United States’ vote against the United Nations resolution designating the transatlantic trafficking and enslavement of Africans as 'the gravest crime against humanity' represents a deeply troubling abdication of moral leadership and historical responsibility.

"When 123 nations stood in solidarity to acknowledge the enduring harm suffered by millions, the U.S. chose instead to oppose a gesture of justice and global healing.

Gwen Grant, an indefatigable advocate for social justice and Kansas City’s Black residents for more than three decades, announced her retirement from the Urban League.

Grant will continue as CEO until her official retirement in March 2027, when a successor will be named. In the meantime, Melissa Robinson, a member of the Kansas City Council, will join the Urban League of Greater Kansas City (Kansas City, MO) as President and CEO, according to a news release.

Grant, who has spent 25 years as the league’s leader and 31 years with the organization overall, helped form the “broader civic landscape of our region,” said Joe Davis, chair of the league’s board of directors.

“For more than three decades, she has led with courage, clarity, and an unwavering commitment to justice — strengthening this organization, elevating the voices of our community, and ensuring the Urban League remains a trusted and impactful institution for generations,” Davis said.