On January 22, 2026, the National Urban League convened a gathering of 31 organizations at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to defend diversity against federal actions taken across government, the workforce, and public life. Leaders representing Black, Latino, Asian, Arab, white, Jewish, LGBTQ, and immigrant communities spoke to a national audience via live stream.
President Marc Morial opened the event by painting a stark picture of America one year into the current administration. “The state of America is a state of emergency,” he said. “And a year into this new administration, the United States is not just divided. It is damaged. It is damaged constitutionally. It is damaged culturally, and it is damaged economically.”
Economic growth has slowed from 3% in 2024 to below 2% in 2025, with black unemployment double the national rate at almost 8%. According to Melanie Campbell, President and CEO of National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, “In 2025 alone, more than 300,000 black women were pushed out of the labor force, partly due to the gutting of DEI protections and federal job cuts.”
Majority of Americans Support DEI
Contrary to political narratives suggesting public opposition to diversity initiatives, new research presented by Dr. Alicia Simmons of Hart Research revealed overwhelming support for equal opportunity principles. The research showed that 71% of voters rate diversity, equity, and inclusion positively, while 89% view equal opportunity favorably.
The polling, conducted over two years with more than 6,000 voters and 23 focus groups, found that Americans recognize structural inequalities and believe equal opportunity must be actively cultivated rather than left to chance. Notably, voters support giving additional consideration to qualified candidates from underrepresented groups by roughly two-to-one margins.
Asian American Leaders Speak Out
John C. Yang: Community Data Shows Overwhelming Support
John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), confirms that the majority of Americans support DEI programs. He shared specific data showing that “over 90% of Asian-Americans recognize that diversity is a strength in this country,” while “only 10% of the public thinks that diversity, equity, inclusion somehow hurts Asian-Americans.”
Yang connected diversity programs directly to combating discrimination: “Two different studies have shown that over 30% of Asian-Americans have experienced discrimination often or very often. Now, we know that diversity, equity, and inclusion programs help to eliminate discrimination, help to tell the full story of the United States…it leads us to understand how all of our communities have contributed to this country.”
Yang concluded with a direct challenge to institutional leaders: “The question before institutions is not whether equal opportunity and fairness are popular enough, but whether they have the willingness, the leadership to exercise on this mandate. Quite simply, we demand diversity because the public demands diversity and they deserve diversity.”
Madalene Mielke: Confronting the Model Minority Myth
Madalene Mielke, President and CEO of the Asian-Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS), focused her remarks on the persistent underrepresentation of AANHPIs in government and the harmful stereotypes that perpetuate their exclusion. She highlighted the stark disparity in political representation: “The AANHPI community is one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States with 7% of the population and yet we only make up about 1% of elected officials nationwide.”
Mielke outlined three critical demands for leaders. First, on language: “Our leaders need to stop using DEI as a buzzword. When we reduce our values to slogans, we lose the power to drive real change.”
Second, on stereotypes: “Leaders must reject and dismantle the Asian-American model minority myth. This harmful narrative suggests that our communities are never in need, systemically excluding us from DEI framework and denying our communities from vital resources and visibility.”
Third, on data: “We must reject the idea that AA and NHPI communities are a monolith. Our leaders need to continue to demand disagregated data in order to understand the unique diverse challenges faced by each of our subgroups. Because how can our communities be served if we are not accurately measured, if we are measured at all?”
Pushing back against the false choice between merit and diversity, Mielke emphasized: “Our leaders need to reaffirm that DEI is not a replacement for merit. We can be inclusive and considerate while still prioritizing excellence. We can do both.”
Greg Orton: Holding Power Accountable
Greg Orton, National Director National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), delivered particularly pointed remarks directed at both corporations and elected officials.
He was critical of corporate behavior during attacks on diversity programs, “As you all desperately try to contort yourselves to fly below the radar, let me tell you what we see. We see companies who when they want something, when they want access, when they want regulatory relief, when they want that tax break, they can marshall enormous resources that vastly outweigh anything that everyday Americans can do.”
He continued, “The other thing we see is that you also espouse these values of being good community partners. You are watching in real time as our communities are under attack and suddenly you lose that voice. We see that. As my colleagues have said, silence is a choice and it’s certainly not neutral.”
Turning to politicians, Orton warned: “Your legacy will be defined by how you use your platform. Right now, we are in a race to the bottom. When truth and integrity are sacrificed for clicks and monetization, you are given incredible privilege, protection, and status. Yet, so many of you abuse and devalue public trust.”
He added a critique that resonated with widespread voter frustration: “That is why so many Americans, fair or unfair, see Democrats and Republicans of two sides of the same trick coin that never flip in their favor.”
Orton closed with a sobering message to AAPI communities, “Friends, we are watching in real time whether American democracy can survive an attempt to violently reclaim power and redefine who is considered American and who has access to that power. Yes, they will let some of us in, but let me assure you, we are not part of their plan.”
He emphasized the importance of coalition work: “A coalition is not about agreeing on everything. It is about recognizing that we’re going to disagree on things, but there’s so much that we can agree on, so much that we can work together on. So, if there was ever a time for all of our communities to demand diversity and frankly demand more, it’s right now.”
Voices from the Coalition
Leaders across sectors spoke to the real-world impacts of recent policy changes.
Economic Impact: Ron Busby of the U.S. Black Chambers noted that minority-owned businesses represent 22% of all employer firms but receive only 6% of federal contract dollars, calling corporate retreat from diversity commitments “a choice, and it’s the wrong one.”
Legal Landscape: Janai Nelson of the Legal Defense Fund reminded attendees that many diversity programs are designed to help employers comply with existing civil rights laws, warning that abandoning them increases discrimination liability rather than reducing it.
Immigration Enforcement: Maya Berry of the Arab American Institute described communities living in “abject and absolute fear” from immigration raids, with families torn apart and children afraid to attend school.
Media Representation: Errin Haines of the National Association of Black Journalists highlighted that Black journalists still comprise only 6% of American newsrooms, barely changed from 5% in 1968 when the Kerner Commission report was published
State Leadership: Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul described how Democratic state attorneys general have filed 77 multi-state lawsuits against federal actions, some of them against DEI and voting rights, achieving success in roughly 77% of cases. He announced plans for a national campaign called “Liberty, Justice, and Opportunity for All” to coordinate messaging between state AGs and civil rights organizations.
A Call for Accountability
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, coalition members outlined clear expectations for candidates and corporations:
- Stop making commitments without accountability and contracts
- Stop using DEI as a political weapon while ignoring public support
- Start investing in diverse leadership pipelines for the future
- Start following the data on what drives business success and innovation
“We are in a state of emergency. But we are in a state of possibility,” Morial concluded, announcing plans for a pledge that candidates must sign to demonstrate commitment to equal opportunity principles before earning votes from coalition communities.
The roundtable emphasized that while diversity initiatives face political attacks, the American public, by substantial margins, continues to support the fundamental values of fairness, inclusion, and equal opportunity that these programs represent.
