Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

"Nashville prepared me. If it hadn't been for Nashville, I would not be the person I am now." – Congressman John Lewis

Nashville’s streets have long carried the echoes of America’s most disciplined and courageous civil‑rights activism. It was here, in 1960, that students from local colleges launched a sit‑in campaign so strategic and unwavering that it became a national blueprint for nonviolent resistance. Their actions not only made Nashville the first major Southern city to desegregate its lunch counters—they shaped the moral and tactical core of the civil‑rights movement and helped forge the leadership of icons like John Lewis and Diane Nash. Nashville’s history is not just remembered; it is lived, embedded in the city’s identity, and carried forward by every new generation confronting injustice.

Nation’s Largest and Most Influential Civil Rights Gathering Will Attract Thousands of Attendees, Millions in Economic Impact

Conference Includes Release of Highly-Anticipated State of Black America® Report

NASHVILLE, TENN (February 26, 2026) – The 2026 National Urban League Conference will convene in Nashville July 29-August 1 at the Music City Center, bringing thousands of thought leaders, experts, advocates, and activists to confront an unprecedented assault on racial justice and equal opportunity and to shape an empowerment agenda to defend democracy, demand diversity, and defeat poverty.

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial, Urban League of Middle Tennessee President and CEO Clifton E. Harris announced the Conference today during a media briefing at Music City Center.

February 25, 2026 – Last night, President Trump used his State of the Union address to paint a picture of a country experiencing previously unheard-of levels of success and prestige. In a speech riddled with disinformation and half-truths, the President declared that his leadership has brought newfound safety, security, and prosperity to the American people. For Black people in America, the story the President told could not be further from the truth.

NEW YORK (February 25, 2026) — National Urban League President and CEO issued the following response to the State of the Union Address:

"The longest Presidential address in recent history was also historically dishonest, as the administration scrambles to obscure the failure of its unpopular policies.

"Far from ushering in an “unprecedented” economy, the Trump administration oversaw a slowdown of GDP growth. The rising costs of housing, childcare and healthcare have outpaced wage gains, and inflation remains well above the Federal Reserve’s targeted rate of 2%.

NEW YORK (February 23, 2026) -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the death of civil rights heroine Dorothy Prevost:

"It is hard to imagine the courage and conviction it took to send her daughter, Tessie — a tiny first-grader — into the hostility that surrounded the desegregation of New Orleans public schools.  Her work — in advocacy, community organizing, and the relentless pursuit of equality — helped build the foundation on which so many of today’s freedoms stand.

"Dorothy not only believed in the power of ordinary people to effect extraordinary change — she lived it. She showed us progress is not only landmark legislation or historic marches. but  daily acts of resistance, dignity, and hope.

Honoring a trailblazer. See how Dr. Norman C. Francis' leadership opened doors to higher education and professional advancement for Black Americans. | His legacy lives on. Rev. Jesse Jackson was more than a civil rights leader; he was our moral compass. Take a moment to reflect on and continue his legacy. | Greetings from Chicago. Watch as our President & CEO reflects on Rev. Jesse Jackson after keynoting the Cook County Land Bank Association Luncheon. | More than a place of worship. See how the Black church has always been a place to build power, featuring Rev. Frederick Haynes' congregation in Dallas. | You can create change. Civil rights and economic opportunity are being rolled back, and pathways to stability are narrowing. Stand with us + donate. | We’re heading to Nashville. #NULConf26 is heading to the Music City to gather changemakers who want to better their communities. Register today.

NEW YORK (February 20, 2026) —National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court Decision on tariffs:

"Today’s Supreme Court decision striking down the Trump administration's unlawfully imposed tariffs is a welcome affirmation of constitutional balance and a meaningful step toward protecting the economic well‑being of America’s working families.

"The decision is a long-overdue sign that the Court has reasserted its independence and will not act as a rubber-stamp for the administration in every case.

"For more than a year, the National Urban League has emphasized that these tariffs are regressive taxes that fall hardest on everyday Americans. They have driven up prices on essential goods, disrupted supply chains, and deepened the economic anxieties already felt in communities across the nation.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“We've got to have people who believe that education belongs to everybody. The future is education for our kids, starting early. Let them know about Blacks who made history and did it from their own belief in themselves, and belief in that we have to make a change.” - Dr. Norman C. Francis

There are times in history when we are called to meet the moment. During the Civil Rights Movement, the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. dimmed a lot in the eyes of many who had exalted him for courage in the face of violence and racism. For Dr. Norman C. Francis, who began his presidency at Xavier University of Louisiana on the day of Dr. King’s assassination, it was a call to build something greater.

It was a call he answered for nearly five decades.

NEW YORK (February 17, 2026) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.:

"The nation has lost  a giant of American history, a fearless freedom fighter, and one of the most consequential leaders of the modern civil rights movement.