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.

Ice has gone rogue. See how courageous governors and mayors are standing up to ICE's illegal, abusive acts in Chicago and Minneapolis. | Day on the Hill. Get highlights from our President & CEO's meetings on Capitol Hill during the CBC's Black History Month convening on this urgent moment. | Don't miss the action! Tune in this Sunday, February 15 as we kick off our Defend Democracy, Demand Diversity, Defeat Poverty (D3) tour in Atlanta, GA. | Where do we stand with reparations? Tune in to episode two as community leaders in New York and Illinois take us inside the fight for reparations. | There’s room at the table. Sign up for our free webinar for tips on embracing pivots and turning unexpected detours into opportunities for growth. | Heart to Heart. This American Heart Month, get the facts on how to recognize the signs of a heart attack or stroke, ways to keep your heart healthy & more.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“If the federal government will not hold these rogue actors accountable, then Chicago will do everything in our power to bring these agents to justice.” – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson

There comes a point when euphemisms fail us. What ICE has done in Chicago and Minneapolis is not mere “overreach.”  Agents did not make “missteps” or “tactical errors.” These are clear, documented violations of the law and abuses of power that have endangered the lives of American citizens — and they demand a forceful reckoning. State and local leaders in Illinois and Minnesota have been forced into a role that should shame the federal government: they are defending the Constitution against the very agents sworn to uphold it.

The National Urban League and its affiliates strongly condemn the Trump administration’s latest reckless and politically motivated attempt to punish states by withholding $10 billion in critical funding that supports low-income children and families. 

Programs like the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Child Care and Development Fund, and Social Services Block Grants are lifelines for hundreds of thousands of families, providing essential support including childcare, cash assistance, and job training. This move threatens the communities we serve by disrupting programs that drive up costs for families, and it limits essential access to vital services like housing, healthcare and education.  

NEW YORK and WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 12, 2026)  — The appointment of a partisan operative with extreme racial views to a key international position would "undermine U.S. credibility and weaken our capacity to lead with moral authority on the world stage," the nation's legacy civil rights organizations warned in a letter to the chair and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urging them to reject the nomination.

Our history matters. See how the fight to preserve Black History and the recognition of it in books + education is aligned with the fight to save America. | Saluting storytellers! See a snippet of the celebration as we honored the CBS Saturday Morning crew: Michelle Miller, Dana Jacobson, and Brian Applegate. | Justice Now is back! Tune in as we head to Memphis to meet leaders fighting for environmental justice in Black areas harmed by Elon Musk’s xAI data center. | Calling all college students! Applications are now open for Spectrum’s annual scholarship and career-development program. Learn more and apply by April 3. | We’re hitting the road! On Sunday, February 15, we’re kicking off our D3 Tour at Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta, GA! Watch live! | Level up your career! Career Week may be over, but there’s still time to explore open roles, access career-building resources + more. Get started now.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

A core memory for nearly four generations of Americans, the first time their teacher announced at the beginning of February that it was time to honor Black History Month. 

Lesson plans highlighted the work of Thurgood Marshall to desegregate the very classrooms they sat in. The words of Martin Luther King Jr. adorned hallways' corkboards, serving as a reminder to build character and to respect people regardless of race. And the contributions of Mae Jemison, Lewis Latimer, and George Washington Carver encouraged us to lean into our ability to wonder and shape the world around us.

A year ago, those lessons, the landmarks of those contributions, and the way we tell those stories in our schools, workplaces, and museums came under attack.