Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
― George Orwell, 1984

“Don’t believe your lying eyes.” 

The quote, which originated in the Marx Brothers' movie Duck Soup in 1933, has been deployed in a variety of contexts by comics, authors, and orators, leaning into irony for nearly a century.

I never thought that I would see the day when the federal government would use it to defend the execution of an American citizen on American soil, in broad daylight, on camera. That is precisely what occurred on the morning of January 7th, when 37-year-old wife and mother, Renee Nicole Good, was shot at point-blank range by an immigration enforcement officer as she tried to leave the scene of a protest in Minneapolis.

NEW YORK and MINNEAPOLIS (January 8, 2026) — National Urban League President & CEO Marc H. Morial and Urban League Twin Cities President & CEO Marquita Stephens issued the following joint statement in response to the recent killing of an American citizen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents:

“The killing of American citizens by ICE agents cannot and will not be tolerated. For more than 50 years, law enforcement policy has explicitly prohibited shooting at moving vehicles—a principle established in 1972 and widely recognized as best practice. ICE agents’ decision to ignore this standard represents a dangerous and unacceptable escalation of force, rooted in outdated and reckless tactics.

Operation Catahoula Crunch. See how the immigration raids in New Orleans shifted from a promise of public safety to a ruthless racial profiling initiative. | Applications are open! If you're an undergraduate student who wants to make a difference or know one, check out our hybrid paid summer internship. | Join the movement in Nashville!  This is the best time to register early and save big with our lowest rate for the 2026 National Urban League Conference. | Shop with impact. When you shop at FashionFair.com and enter code FFXNUL at checkout, 15% of your purchase will be donated directly to support our work. | Still need the perfect gift? Check out our online marketplace to grab official Urban League t-shirts, hoodies, tumblers + more in time for the holidays. 

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“What we are seeing unfold in our community is not public safety; it is a political stunt wrapped in badges, armored vehicles, and military uniforms.” – U.S. Rep. Troy Carter

The Trump administration vowed its south Louisiana immigration sweep would target violent criminals.

In reality, a mere handful of those swept up in “Operation Catahoula Crunch,” have criminal histories of any kind. Far more of those detained have been accused of no wrongdoing and hold authorization them to live and work in the United States.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“When Mr. Trump maligns me, it increases the number of death threats that my family, staff members and I receive. As a member of Congress, I am privileged to have access to security when these threats arise. What keeps me up at night is that people who share the identities I hold — Black, Somali, hijabi, immigrant — will suffer the consequences of his words, which so often go unchecked by members of the Republican Party and other elected officials. All Americans have a duty to call out this hateful rhetoric when we hear it.” – Rep. Ilhan Omar

A road to disaster. See how Trump’s openly racist rhetoric fuels extremist crowdfunding, emboldens hate, and endangers marginalized communities. | The Power to Persist. Tune in as Marc H. Morial joins Dr. Lamell McMorris to discuss his upbringing in a household rooted in civil rights + more. | Don't miss the action! Be part of the movement in Nashville by registering now to lock in our lowest rate ever for #NULConf26. | Stand with us! Your year-end gift fuels our 2026 action plan to defend voting rights, mobilize communities, and protect families. Donate today. | Shop with purpose! Use code FFXNUL while shopping at Fashion Fair, and they’ll donate 15% of purchases to the National Urban League. |  What’s on your gift list? Shop and share the spirit of the movement this season with bold, mission-driven gifts from our online marketplace.