Opening Plenary: State of Black America - State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights & Progress Under Attack

Time:
July 17, 2025 - 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Room:
Huntington Convention Center // Ballroom A

State of Black America

It is worse than we feared. Our democracy is in crisis, and Black America is especially at risk. The safeguards outlined in the U.S. Constitution to protect our freedoms are being systematically dismantled. Sixty years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the legislative process has been weaponized to suppress and minimize Black voices and votes. Marc Morial, President & CEO of the National Urban League, breaks down the findings of this year’s State of Black America report, highlighting the impact of the dismantling of civil rights protections and what must be done to reclaim the promise of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

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Doors open at 8:00 a.m.

Read the Full Report on July 17th at stateofblackamerica.org

It is worse than we feared. Our democracy is in crisis, and Black America is especially at risk. The safeguards outlined in the U.S. Constitution to protect our freedoms are being systematically dismantled. Sixty years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the legislative process has been weaponized to suppress and minimize Black voices and votes. Marc Morial, President & CEO of the National Urban League, breaks down the findings of this year’s State of Black America report, highlighting the impact of the dismantling of civil rights protections and what must be done to reclaim the promise of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Remarks: Rhonda Spears Bell, Senior Vice President & Executive Producer, National Urban League Conference

Chariman's Remarks: Tim Murphy, Vice Chair, Mastercard, Chair of the Board of Trustees, National Urban League

Keynote: Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League

Welcome Greetings: Honorable Justin M. Bibb, Mayor, City of Cleveland, Ohio

Sponsor Remarks:  Marsha Mockabee, General Manager, Business & Community Engagement, Sustainable Development Division - Toyota Motor North America, Inc.

Sponsor Remarks: Monica D. Womack, General Manager, D&I and Community Engagement, Toyota North America

Moderator: Ed Gordon, Emmy Award-winning Broadcaster; President, Ed Gordon Media

Panelists:
Melanie Campbell, President/CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Maya Wiley, President and CEO, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Professor Kimberle W. Crenshaw, Co-Founder and Executive Director, The African American Policy Forum; Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law

Speaker(s)