[LAUREN TAYLOR]
CALIFORNIA IS SET TO LAUNCH THE NATION’S LARGEST GOVERNMENT-FUNDED REPARATIONS EFFORT OF ITS KIND.
ALLOCATING $12 MILLION FROM ITS NEXT BUDGET FOR BLACK RESIDENTS. CITING DECADES OF RACIAL INJUSTICE.
IT’S A FAR CRY FROM THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A TASK FORCE RECOMMENDED EARLIER THIS YEAR. BUT CONSIDERING THE STATE’S 50 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET SHORT-FALL– ADVOCATES SAID THEY’RE PLEASED *ANY* MONEY GOT ALLOCATED.
MOVEMENTS TO COMPENSATE BLACK PEOPLE FOR THE WOUNDS OF SLAVERY AND SEGREGATION GAINED NEW STEAM FOLLOWING THE 2020 DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AND THE ENSUING PROTESTS.
NOW CITIES AND STATES ARE TAKING ACTION.
DC’S 2025 BUDGET PROPOSAL INCLUDES ONE-POINT-FIVE-MILLION DOLLARS TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF REPARATIONS.
BUT SOME EFFORTS HAVE HIT ROADBLOCKS.
IN LATE MAY, A CONSERVATIVE ADVOCACY GROUP SUED TO STOP THE COUNTRY’S FIRST EVER GOVERNMENT-FUNDED REPARATIONS PROGRAM IN EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.
ARGUING THE EFFORT DISCRIMINATES AGAINST OTHER ETHNICITIES.
AROUND FIVE MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE PROGRAM HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID OUT TO NEARLY 200 PEOPLE.
THIS MONTH, THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN A LAWSUIT SEEKING REPARATIONS FOR THE LAST TWO SURVIVORS OF THE 1921 TULSA RACE MASSACRE.
CALIFORNIA’S EFFORT STILL FACES OPPOSITION FROM REPUBLICANS AS WELL AS SOME ASIAN AND LATINO LAWMAKERS WHO SAY IT’S UNFAIR TO MAKE CURRENT RESIDENTS PAY FOR THE WRONGS OF THE PAST.
THE STATE BUDGET DOESN’T OUTLINE HOW THE REPARATIONS WILL BE PAID OUT BUT STATE LAWMAKERS SAY IT WILL BE WORKED INTO REPARATIONS-RELATED BILLS.
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