NEW ORLEANS — Starting next week, the National Urban League, a civil rights group led by former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, will hold its annual conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the central business district. The conference is expected to draw thousands of participants to New Orleans to discuss the challenges facing black Americans and how best to address them.
The six-day event, which begins Wednesday, will feature gatherings, panels and workshops on voting rights, equity and inclusion, economic independence and more, all aligned with the conference’s theme of “Defend Democracy, Demand Diversity, Defeat Poverty.” Additionally, the conference will also feature a job fair, community service day and networking events.
The event comes at a time when Louisiana residents, especially black residents, are facing many challenges. New Orleans residents are pessimistic about the current state and future of their city. The state is suing to use federal civil rights laws to limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to clean up pollution in black communities. And several “tough on crime” bills passed by the state legislature this year could double the state’s incarceration rate in the near future.
Verite News spoke with Morial, who served as mayor from 1994 to 2002 and has served as president of the National League of Cities since 2003, about race and poverty in New Orleans, the environment and criminal justice, and the 2024 election.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
VeriteNews: How does the National Urban League plan to help New Orleanians’ most vulnerable residents?
Marc Morial: Most importantly, having the conference in New Orleans will have an economic impact of up to $10 million. Secondly, we’ll get millions of media hits, social media, TV, radio. Thirdly, we’ll have the opportunity to offer a variety of things for the city and its residents, including services, backpack distribution, health zones, and more, on Saturday (July 27th), with a Family and Community Day that is open to the public.
Verity News: As a former mayor and someone who always has an eye on the current state of black America, what are your thoughts on the current state of the city?
Morial: I believe New Orleans is at a crossroads. Long-standing issues in New Orleans, such as racial wealth inequality and poverty, plague the city, the region, and the state, especially black Americans. The current Hurricane Katrina crisis is a turning point for the city. [which started] About 20 years ago, many [the] Middle-class African-Americans migrated to cities like Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas. Many who owned homes left their communities.
The city continues to fight, but plans must accelerate to rebuild its economy. The challenges facing New Orleans are the same as those facing New Orleans 30 years ago.
Politicians alone cannot solve this. We need the cooperation of the state. We need businesses and economic actors to understand the nature of the problem and the nature of the problem. These are the challenges. I think many of the challenges facing New Orleans are challenges facing other cities. But I think the poverty and racial wealth gap in New Orleans is more extreme and more difficult than in many other cities.
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Verite News: In light of the Louisiana v. EPA decision mentioned in the Urban League’s “State of Black America” report, how can civil rights law be used to protect environmental justice?
Morial: This is an ongoing battle. Many industries are working hard to challenge the laws and regulations and have the full support of many politicians in Louisiana, including the governor and his administration.
This is not an easy fight, because many business leaders and political leaders in Louisiana are complicit. They just deny the problem exists. And when the federal government tries to step in and do something, they resist it. They oppose it. And this is shameful because environmental justice is a public health issue. It’s about health, clean air, clean water, a good, healthy living environment.
Verite News: Where do you think opponents of civil rights laws draw the line in restricting them?
Morial: I don’t know. I think some of them want to water it down. We’re in a unique battle, a legal battle and a public battle, over the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. And one of the biggest challenges we face right now is a Supreme Court that is very conservative and complicit in this battle. This Supreme Court should be upholding people’s individual rights, individual liberties, a strong equal protection clause. It should be upholding the right to vote and the right to fair apportionment.
Jeff Landry is wrong, that’s all. He’s costing the state money. Pandering to this tough-on-crime crowd will not make Louisiana safer.
– Marc Morial, President of the National League of Cities
Verite News: Governor John Bel Edwards signed significant criminal justice reform legislation during his term in office. But this year, Governor Jeff Landry signed a tough-on-crime bill. What do you think about the governor’s office’s shift in stance on criminal justice?
Morial: Jeff Landry is wrong. Period. He’s costing the state money. His pandering to tough-on-crime people won’t make Louisiana safer. It won’t help heal communities. It’s the wrong policy. Louisiana has made great strides, saved money, and healed many lives with what I call modest justice reform. Jeff Landry is pandering to the far right.
Verite News: As president of the Urban League, what do you want people to think about when they vote in the upcoming election?
Morial: I hope they think about democracy and the future of America and realize that it’s not about personality. It’s about the policies of the candidates we vote for, and I hope people realize that the presidential election is not an “American Idol” contest. It’s not “Celebrity Apprentice” on steroids. This is a competition between two different policies. And I think people need to do their research and understand these policies as they vote this fall.
Verite News: It’s been 60 years since the Civil Rights Act was passed. What do you think the state of civil rights is 60 years later?
Morial: Civil rights organizations are stronger than ever before, defending these laws and trying to protect this progress in a practical way. This is a fight. We have a man who was just nominated for vice president. [Republican Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio]He wants to repeal civil rights laws. There are people who are literally trying to move the needle of America back to the 1800s instead of the 1900s. And good people who want an America for all have to resist that and fight against that.
The National League of Cities conference begins Monday for virtual participants and Wednesday for in-person participants. More information can be found on the conference website.
This article first appeared on Verite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
