New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has inked a new bill to officially consider slavery reparations. According to Rochester First, Hochul signed the bill on Tuesday (Dec. 19) and will create a commission to get the ball rolling. The commission will be designed to examine what New York reparation payments could look like.
Hochul noted that this decision isn’t to “correct the past” but rather “bend the arc of justice” and do more for Black people. Kathy spoke about her commission’s objective during the bill signing. She also talked about New York’s direct connection to the Underground Railroad.
“If this committee can present a viable path forward to helping the descendants of New York slaves and addressing the harms and disparities that exist in education, that exist in healthcare, that exist in the environment, that will lift all of us up,” Hochul expressed at the New York Historical Society.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 19: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks signs legislation creating a commission for the study of reparations in New York on December 19, 2023 in New York City. Gov. Hochul was joined by Rev. Al Sharpton, various members of New York government leadership and influential community members six months after state lawmakers passed the bill and three years after California became the first state to create a reparations task force. The bill creates a nine-member commission that would study the effects of slavery in the state and make non-binding recommendations on reparations. Three members would be appointed by the governor, three by the assembly and three by the senate.
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“What’s hard to embrace is that our state flourished from that slavery. It’s not a beautiful story, but indeed it is the truth,” Hochul added. “Today, I challenge all New Yorkers to be patriots and rebuke and not excuse our role in benefitting from the institution of slavery.”
Reverend Al Sharpton, also present for the “historic day,” offered insight into the legislation. Sharpton called Hochul’s legislation an attempt to “heal the wounds” of past trauma. “You cannot heal unless you deal with the wounds, and this bill will put a commission together to be healing the wounds,” Rev. Sharpton communicated. “Only those that have seen people marginalized for even raising the issue can understand the historic significance of today.”
The outlet details that Hochul’s commission must report their research to the state no later than a year after their first scheduled “mission.”