By: Eris Lowdermilk
California Governor Gavin Newsom signs a new bill that addresses reparations. Assembly Bill (AB) 3121 transitions descendants of enslaved Americans one step closer to getting restitution for centuries of free labor and the legal discrimination that followed it, supporters say. Black Californians who may qualify for reparations payments, should not expect a check any time soon.
AB 3121, titled “The Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans,” produces a nine-member commission to investigate the history of slavery in the United States, California’s overall involvement in slavery, segregation & the disregard of Black citizens their constitutional rights, and how much the state benefited from the activities and policies. An Assembly member Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, authored the bill. The recommendation must be submitted to the legislature no later than 2023.
Between both houses in the Legislature, 93 of the lawmakers voted in favor of AB 3121, while 15, all Republicans, opposed the bill. Ten legislators chose not to participate in the voting on the bill.
Newswire, CBS. (2020, October 2). California Gov. Newsom Signs Reparations Bill Into Law. The Sacramento Observer. http://sacobserver.com/2020/10/california-gov-newsom-signs-reparations-bill-into-law/
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