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Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League
  
 

“Through nonviolence, courage displaces fear; love transforms hate. Acceptance dissipates prejudice; hope ends despair. Peace dominates war; faith reconciles doubt. Mutual regard cancels enmity. Justice for all overthrows injustice. The redemptive community supersedes systems of gross social immorality.” – Rev. James Lawson

History attributes the success of the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th Century to nonviolence. The stoicism and quiet dignity of the marchers, the Freedom Riders, the lunch counter sitters stood in stark contrast to the brutality of the segregationists. Scenes of the confrontation, beamed via television into America’s living rooms and splashed across newspaper pages, shocked our collective conscience and galvanized support for the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.

We need your help to send a powerful message that we will no longer tolerate policing as usual. Take a minute to urge Congress to act.

NEW YORK (June 17, 2024) – National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today commended Maryland Governor Wes Moore for his mass pardon of low-level marijuana convictions.

"Governor Moore has established himself as a leader in both equitable justice and economic development," Morial said. "It is a welcome acknowledgement of the racial disparity in prosecutions and the long-lasting social and economic damage that the disparity has caused.

National Urban League is a staunch advocate of the marijuana legalization effort to lift constraints that have criminalized Black and Brown people disproportionately and to lift barriers that have blocked opportunity and social parity for marginalized communities.

The Greater Baltimore Urban League (Baltimore, MD) celebrated 100 years in the community on Saturday (June 8th).  

WJZ's Miana Massey was in Seton Hill this afternoon as the organization hosted a block party, and announced renewed efforts to invest into Baltimore 

Established in 1924, the Greater Baltimore Urban League celebrated a major milestone.  

"The Urban League for the last 100 years has played a tremendous role in this community surrounding economic development, housing, health, education, crime, you name it," Ricky Smith, chairman of the Greater Baltimore Urban League, said. 

The organization is now launching their Centennial Campaign, a century of impact, a future of promise, which signifies a transformative journey aimed at amplifying impact.  

To read the story, click here.

Meagan Good's years of advocacy are evident in her latest accolade.

On Thursday (June 6), Meagan Good served as an Honorary Co-chair at the New York Urban League's (New York, NY) 58th Annual Frederick Douglass Awards Gala. This esteemed event, held at the Ziegfeld Ballroom and hosted by DeMarco Morgan, celebrated notable individuals who have significantly advanced equality and justice.

The Frederick Douglass Medallion was awarded to Aurora James, founder of the 15% Pledge; George Gresham, President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East; and Renee McClure, a social justice and racial equity advocate, for their remarkable contributions to economic equity, workers' rights, healthcare accessibility, social justice, and racial equity, each making a significant impact in their respective fields.

The Urban League of Essex County (Newark, NJ) is thrilled to announce their annual free 2024 Summer Tech Camp, offering an exciting and educational experience for students in grades 6, 7, and 8.

The extensive summer session will take place at Tech House, 152 Littleton Avenue, Newark’s West Ward, from July 8 to August 16.

The camp will run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Urban League officials have curated an impressive lineup of activities at Tech House, including Sound Engineering, 3D Printing, Building a Computer, Filmmaking, and a Mathematics Camp.

These programs are designed to inspire and educate young minds, equipping them with valuable skills for the future.

Participants will also enjoy complimentary breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack each day.

To read the full story, click here.

The Greater Stark County Urban League (Canton, OH)  is calling for a “reimagined” Canton City Police Department.

Thomas West, President and CEO of the Greater Stark County Urban League, said a Canton police officer's use of a police dog  to bite a city resident who already was lying face down with his arms crossed behind his back demonstrates a need for changes within the department. In a June 3 letter to city leaders, West wrote the reimagined department would be where “integrity and respect for fellow citizens and our city are paramount.”

Separately, the Urban League and the Stark County NAACP also are working together to create the framework for a new police oversight commission that would have subpoena powers and be independent of city government. The agencies’ recommendations are expected to be given to city leaders within the next couple of weeks.