Morial Urges Full Disclosure of NRA/ALEC Relationship
 
WASHINGTON, DC -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today added his voice to a coalition of advocates, activists and civil rights leaders calling for an end to the promotion by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) of the deadly “Kill At Will” laws that contributed to the death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.  Morial also called for ALEC to disclose the full extent of its dealings and financial relationship with the National Rifle Association, the nation’s leading gun rights organization.  
 
“The spate of ‘Kill At Will’laws that have passed around the country appear to have been written by the same hand—a ghostwriter named ALEC—and backed by the NRA,” Morial said.   "Until this relationship is fully examined, at a minimum, ALEC and its NRA backers should immediately stop their promotion of the kinds of ‘Kill At Will’laws that led to this tragedy.
 
Although ALEC presents itself as an organization that promotes legislation which serves the financial interests of its corporate funders, some of its activities go beyond pure business interests and undermine voter rights, workplace safety, and more.   ALEC has used its close ties to conservative state legislators to pass similar “Kill-At Will’” legislation in 30 states.    Since Florida passed its Kill At Will law in 2005, the "justifiable homicide" rate there has jumped 300%.
 
 “This should give everyone pause when an inside-the-beltway group can write and promote laws around the country that give a free pass to criminal behavior and trample on our civil rights.”
 
“Today we are focused on justice for Trayvon,” Morial added.  “But until we get to the bottom of the NRA/ALEC relationship and their motivation for promoting laws that go beyond commercial interests, who knows who ALEC’s next victim will be.”

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About the National Urban League

The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy. Today, there are nearly 100 local affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people nationwide.