They tried to pull a fast one on Black voters.
Black activists have recently expressed frustration with California Democratic lawmakers over their handling of two significant bills related to slavery reparations. During a tense debate at the state assembly, activists threatened to impact Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid if the legislature did not act on Senate Bills 1403 and 1331. These bills were designed to establish a fund and create an agency dedicated to overseeing reparations for descendants of enslaved individuals. However, after extensive discussion and protest, these bills were not passed.
The California legislature did approve other measures last week, including proposals for returning land or providing compensation to families whose property was wrongfully seized by the government, along with a formal apology for historical injustices against Black individuals. Yet, none of these approved measures offered direct financial reparations to African Americans.
Protesters, including members of the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California, made their demands clear. They accused lawmakers of shelving the bills out of fear of opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom. One activist passionately declared that the delay was unacceptable and demanded that the bills be brought to a vote immediately, emphasizing that the prolonged wait of over 400 years for justice must end.
State Senator Steven Bradford, the author of the stalled bills, acknowledged that the failure to advance the legislation stemmed from concerns that Governor Newsom might veto them. Bradford called on his colleagues to push forward with the legislation, emphasizing the responsibility to honor the legacy of those who endured slavery.
Assemblymember Lori Wilson, chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, explained that the bills were withdrawn to allow for further refinement, acknowledging that the process was expected to be challenging and protracted.
Governor Newsom has yet to publicly address these specific bills, though he did sign a budget that included funding for reparations initiatives. His administration has signaled some opposition to certain proposals. Newsom has until September 30 to make a final decision on the bills that did pass.
In the broader context of reparations efforts, Newsom previously signed legislation in 2020 to create a task force dedicated to studying reparations proposals, a move followed by similar initiatives in New York and Illinois. This task force released a comprehensive report with over 100 recommendations for policymakers. Additionally, Newsom recently enacted legislation requiring data collection on student performance by race and gender in state-funded career education programs, part of a broader reparations package aimed at addressing educational disparities.
WATCH:
BREAKING: Black Californians are threatening to withhold their vote from Kamala Harris after the State's Democrat lawmakers decided not to give them slavery reparations
— George (@BehizyTweets) September 1, 2024
“This is going to impact your friend, Kamala Harris, who's running for president.”
Black Democrats are… pic.twitter.com/rWHC8FXjP0