The last two weeks have made one thing clear—this administration is on a mission to dismantle the very progress our communities have fought for. Executive orders have rolled out like clockwork, targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), ramping up ICE enforcement, and freezing critical federal funding. These actions are not just policy changes. They are calculated attacks on Black communities, immigrant families, and marginalized groups.
The Detroit NAACP is making it known: We must not turn back. This isn’t up for debate. It’s a direct response to an obvious attempt to push this nation—and Black America—backward. During a NAACP public mass meeting, the Northwest Activities Center held a packed crowd that filled every seat, with standing room only. This was more than just a meeting; this was a declaration. Detroit NAACP President Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony and Executive Director Kamilia Landrum stood before a community that refuses to be silent.
“We are law-abiding citizens. We are lawmakers, not lawbreakers. The NAACP helps make laws, not break laws. We know some people in high places that are breaking the laws right now. That’s why we’re sitting here,” said Rev. Dr. Anthony, making it plain that the fight for justice is not just in the streets, but in policies and power.
The executive actions from the Trump administration are not abstract concepts. They have real consequences, and Detroiters know that better than anyone. The increased ICE enforcement has families on edge, uncertain if they will be separated from their loved ones. The attack on DEI programs is a direct assault on progress, an effort to erase the very work that has been done to level the playing field. Eliminating DEI initiatives disproportionately impacts Black communities by reducing access to employment opportunities, scholarships, and equitable education. For a city like Detroit, where Black excellence and advocacy have led to meaningful advancements, this rollback threatens to undermine years of progress.
The federal funding freeze is another major blow, particularly to institutions that rely on federal dollars to sustain essential programs. One of the hardest-hit entities is the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Federal funds are critical for resources that support underfunded schools, special education, free meal programs, and technology access. Without these funds, students face larger classroom sizes, fewer academic support programs, and a reduction in essential services that directly impact their ability to succeed.
“The main impact was reimbursement of FEMA,” shared Superintendent Nikolai Vitti. “$70M the district was supposed to receive in reimbursements for the way in which we were implementing COVID protocols during the height of the pandemic. A couple months ago, congress approved DPSCD to receive $70M in reimbursement which would’ve been helpful to our district to help with more projects. That money was frozen based on the executive order. Now, I don’t know if we’re going to receive those dollars, but lawfully, DPSCD is due that money because it was approved by congress.” He also mentioned that included in that money was also for summer school programs, special needs children, and meal programs, and right now the money was rescinded.
Vitti addressed the crowd, reassuring families that Detroit’s schools will remain safe spaces for all students. He made it clear that he has directed his staff to report any ICE interactions. Schools should be places of learning, not battlegrounds for political games. Vitti mentioned that there has been a significant drop in students’ attendance in Southwest Detroit since the executive order. “It’s been a drop of anywhere between 5-10% in those schools.” He has now offered a virtual option for those who are reluctant to attend school in person.
“In over twenty years of always working in traditional public schools and larger school districts, I’ve never seen a threat that we are about to take right now,” said Vitti. “The initial threat came with the executive order saying that schools and churches were no longer considered sensitive locations.”
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti did not hold back when addressing what he called the greatest threat of them all—erasing history. “The Trump administration is probably moving in a direction saying that districts will not receive federal funding unless they commit to the following: no instruction linked to critical race theory, no instruction linked to identifying transgender children, and those are two clear ways where this is moving. Denying children of their identity.” Critical race theory, simply put, is the teaching of privilege—white privilege—race, and the history and legacy of slavery. It is an essential framework that helps students understand how systemic racism has shaped laws, institutions, and everyday life in America. Stripping it from classrooms is not just an attack on education—it’s an attack on truth, a calculated effort to erase the struggles and contributions of Black people and other marginalized communities.
The Detroit NAACP is taking concrete action. A newly launched community poll is engaging residents with critical questions about education, immigration policies, police reform, and economic opportunities. This is not a passive survey—it is a tool for shaping policy priorities, amplifying the needs of the community, and ensuring that advocacy efforts align with lived experiences. The results will provide insight into the immediate concerns of Black Detroiters, strengthening the NAACP’s ability to rally and fight effectively.
The importance of grassroots organizing cannot be overstated. Community-led organizations have historically been at the forefront of social and political change. The civil rights movement was built on the backs of organizers who knocked on doors, mobilized voters, and demanded justice. Today, the fight continues, and local advocacy is more important than ever. The NAACP is using data from its poll to inform its next steps—whether it be legal challenges, direct action, or increasing pressure on elected officials to reverse harmful policies.
Rev. Dr. Anthony underscored a critical point: “Just being registered isn’t good enough. You must vote.” It is not enough to engage in symbolic participation. Detroiters must exercise their power at the ballot box in every election—local, state, and federal. Policy does not change unless the people demand it through both grassroots activism and electoral power. The right to vote has been under attack through voter suppression laws, gerrymandering, and misinformation campaigns aimed at discouraging Black participation. The NAACP is committed to ensuring that every eligible voter in Detroit knows their rights, has access to the polls, and understands the impact of their vote.
Beyond voting, the NAACP is calling for direct action through coalition building and economic resistance. Supporting Black-owned businesses, advocating for policy changes at city council meetings, and applying pressure on local officials are all necessary steps in ensuring that Black voices are heard and respected. The fight does not end at the ballot box; it continues in everyday decisions that influence economic and political power.
This is a moment of reckoning. The policies being enacted at the federal level are not just distant legislative maneuvers—they are decisions that impact everyday lives. From a student who may lose access to free meals, to an immigrant family fearing deportation, to a young professional shut out of job opportunities due to the dismantling of DEI initiatives—these are real people with real stakes. The NAACP’s role is to ensure that these communities are not only protected but empowered to fight back.
As the community poll continues to gather data, the next phase of resistance will take shape. This isn’t about watching from the sidelines. Detroit has a legacy of standing up, fighting back, and pushing forward. This time is no different. The NAACP’s message is clear: We will not allow this administration to erase our progress, diminish our rights, or silence our voices. We must mobilize, strategize, and activate every resource at our disposal.
The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. This is not about politics. This is about survival. It’s about ensuring that our children can go to school without fear, that our businesses can thrive without exclusion, and that our voices are not silenced by policies designed to shut us out. The Detroit NAACP is standing firm, calling on the community to mobilize, organize, and resist.
We have seen what happens when our rights are stripped away, and we know the cost of inaction. Detroit has always been a city that fights back, and this moment is no different. The NAACP is calling on every Black Detroiter to stand up, speak out, and hold leadership accountable.
The message is simple. We must not turn back. Not now. Not ever.