8/14/2019 MHM Statement President Elect Barack Obama Nov4

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mhm-statement-president-elect-barack-obama-nov4 1/1

National

Urban League Empowering Communities.Changing Lives.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 CONTACT: Rhonda Spears Bell917-678-5870 cell

rspearsbell@nul.org

Statement by Marc H. Morial, President and CEO ofthe National Urban League

Regarding the Election of President Barack Obama

“After the longest and hardest fought presidential campaign in American history, the votes arenow in and Barack Obama has just been elected the 44 th President of the United States. The

National Urban League and its affiliates congratulate President-elect Obama, Vice-President-elect, Joe Biden, and their families for turning what began as an improbable journey into anhistoric victory for their party and our country. We welcome the new vision they bring toWashington and pledge to work with them to tackle the nation’s deepening domestic challenges,including the epidemic of home foreclosures, the crisis in public education as well as risingunemployment and poverty that have hit middle class and urban Americans especially hard inrecent years.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the American people for voting hopeover fear and electing the first African American president in our nation’s history. This is awatershed moment that renews the nation’s founding promise of freedom, equality and

opportunity for all. This election has shattered what was once considered an unbreakable glassceiling that has kept so many generations of minorities and women from dreaming big dreamsand reaching their full-potential. Never again will any young boy or girl of color in America beshackled with the awful certainty of “not in my lifetime.

“The National Urban League and its affiliates stand ready on day-one to work with the newAdministration, especially in the effort to craft a comprehensive urban agenda that expandsopportunity and unleashes the tremendous untapped potential in our cities. But tonight, wesimply say congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama and thank you to the Americanpeople for this historic new beginning.”

# # #

National Urban League ( www.nul.org ) - Established in 1910, The National Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non- partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than two million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research .