Supporters of reparations for the descendants of enslaved Black Americans in California are vowing to fight after a pair of key bills failed to pass in the state legislature, triggering protests and threats of political action.
A pair of reparations-related bills for the descendants of enslaved Black Americans failed to pass in the California legislature last week, sparking protests and anger among supporters. The measures, introduced by Democratic state lawmakers, were considered key components of efforts to address the legacy of racist policies that have driven disparities for Black people in housing, education, and health.
Democratic state Sen. Steven Bradford of Inglewood authored Senate Bill 1331, which would have created a new state fund for reparations. Senate Bill 1403, authored by a different Democratic lawmaker, would have established a state agency to oversee efforts and determine eligibility.
Protests and Political Pressure Erupt as Reparations Bills Fail in California
After hours of heated debate and protests last week, Democratic state lawmakers and the California Legislative Black Caucus chose to proceed without the bills. While the Democratic-led legislature passed other bills aimed at remedying past racial injustices, none of them provide direct payments to African-Americans.
Reparations supporters, however, are vowing revenge. According to CalMatters, some are considering recalling Black caucus members and other state Democrats who blocked the bills. The Coalition for a Just and Equitable California, a group supporting reparations, has filed an ethics complaint with the special committee on legislative ethics against the caucus, alleging corruption and improper influence.
Protests and Political Pressure Erupt as Reparations Bills Fail in California
Chris Lodgson, who has been working with state lawmakers on reparations since 2019, told CalMatters that "there has to be a political price to pay." "This hurts in a different way because what we saw was our own people stop our own people. That hits different," he said.
Black activists at the California assembly also threatened a "direct impact" on Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign after state Democratic lawmakers held off on the bills. They argue that the move undermines her support among African-Americans.
California Legislative Black Caucus Chair Assemblymember Lori Wilson said Saturday that the Black Caucus pulled the bills, adding that the proposals need more work. "We knew from the very beginning that it was an uphill battle … And we also knew from the very beginning that it would be a multiyear effort," Wilson told reporters.
Wilson emphasized that reparations remain a priority for the Black Caucus but that the bills needed to be refined. She did not comment on the threats of political action by supporters.
Protests erupted outside the Capitol Saturday as reparation advocates demanded that the lawmakers who held up the bills be held accountable.
The Coalition for a Just & Equitable California vowed: "We are coming...No...We're HERE, to get our checks and more."
The California Legislative Black Caucus did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
The failure of the reparations bills highlights the complex and contentious nature of the issue, as well as the challenges facing lawmakers in addressing historical injustices while balancing political realities. The protests and political pressure from supporters indicate that the reparations debate in California is far from over.
