January 22, 2025
National Urban League president Marc H. Morial on Wednesday called President Trump's executive order dismantling federal diversity and affirmative action practices "an assault on the Civil Rights Movement and everything we've achieved in the last 60 years."
Why it matters: Morial's comments came during a meeting of more than a dozen leaders — across racial, ethnic, and religious communities — gathered in D.C. to strategize a response just hours after Trump, fulfilling a campaign promise, moved against 60-year-old government guidelines designed to promote equity in hiring.
What they're saying: "We knew [Trump] was coming with it early, so we took a shot and planned the roundtable two days after the inauguration," Morial told Axios after the Demand Diversity Roundtable event at the National Press Club.
Zoom out: Trump's order revoked one President Lyndon Johnson signed in 1965, more than two years after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have A Dream" speech at the nearby Lincoln Memorial.
Zoom in: Organizers said they gathered community leader from across the nation to discuss how to confront disinformation campaigns targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, reaffirm their commitment to civil rights and expose divisive myths.
Referencing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as the "Magna Carta" of racial justice in America, Morial called on the nation to reaffirm its commitment to equal opportunity.
Morial drew parallels between those historic efforts and the battle against disinformation and political backlash.
The big picture: Civil rights advocates believe attacks on DEI are part of a campaign to normalize bigotry and pit communities against one another.
"Nothing that's happening right now is accidental," said Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. "From the racist attacks on DEI to anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ executive orders, it's all part of a broader effort to normalize dehumanization and extremism."
She pointed to a recent spike in antisemitism and how extremists have sought to exploit the pain of the Jewish community to push divisive agendas.
Latino leaders highlighted the economic and social fallout of DEI rollbacks, while Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) leaders emphasized how these policies deepen inequalities, harm local economies, and hinder progress toward an inclusive democracy.
The bottom line: The message from the roundtable was clear: Defending DEI is not just about protecting civil rights but about preserving the nation's soul.