Tag: reparations

Maryland to consider slavery reparations after Gov. Wes Moore’s veto is overridden

Maryland will create a commission to study potential reparations for slavery after lawmakers voted Tuesday to override a veto by Gov. Wes Moore — currently the nation’s only Black governor — that disappointed many fellow Democrats.

Moore said in his veto letter in May that it was a difficult decision to veto the bill, which was a priority of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. But he wrote there has been enough study of the legacy of slavery, and it was now time to “focus on the work itself” to address it.

But Democrats who control both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly decided the commission was needed to better examine how to do that.

“This topic isn’t easy, but, again, without formal study, reparations risk being dismissed as symbolic or unconstitutional, regardless of moral merit,” said Sen. Charles Sydnor, a Democrat.

After his veto was overridden, Moore said that while he disagrees with the legislature’s decision, “I am eager to move forward in partnership on the work of repair that we all agree is an urgent and pressing need.”

“I believe the time for action is now — and we must continue moving forward with the work of repair immediately,” Moore said in a statement. “That mission is especially vital given the immediate and ongoing effects of this federal administration on our constituents, including communities that have been historically left behind.”

Potential reparations outlined in the bill include official statements of apology, monetary compensation, property tax rebates, social service assistance, as well as licensing and permit fee waivers and reimbursement. Reparations also could include assistance with making a down payment on a home, business incentives, childcare, debt forgiveness and tuition payment waivers for higher education.

Maryland’s Black population is about 30%, the highest percentage of any state outside of the Deep South.

Support for reparations gained momentum in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. However, the issue has been a difficult one, particularly for high-profile Democrats, and comes amid a broader conservative backlash over how race, history and inequality are handled in public institutions.

“At a time of growing attacks on diversity and equity, today’s action reaffirms our shared commitment to truth-telling, accountability, and meaningful progress for Black Marylanders,” the state’s Legislative Black Caucus said in a statement.

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Want Slavery Reparations? Go Ask Muslim Countries, Says Scholar

It’s arguable that the people who complain about slavery most actually may love it, in a perverse way. After all, it provides so many with excuses for failure, anti-Western talking points, and opportunities to extract hand-outs. Just consider “reparations,” which are now continually demanded (by people enslaved only by their own indoctrination). Why, California Governor Gavin Newsom, panderer-in-chief, just signed a bill Friday to create a reparations-administration agency. Never mind that California was never a slave state.

But to African-descent people who want reparations, a British-Bangladeshi scholar has a message: You’re barking up the wrong tree.

You need to seek your booty elsewhere — from Muslim countries.

Dr. Rakib Ehsan, a commentator and author of the book Beyond Grievance, mentions the Ottoman Empire in particular. Now the nation of Turkey, chattel slavery was a major part of its economy and society for more than six centuries, Ehsan points out. He elaborates at The Telegraph:

Millions were enslaved — including Slavs, Eastern Europeans, Africans, and people in the western Mediterranean.

The Ottoman Empire captured and utilised “white slaves” — primarily European Christians — through various methods such as raids into European territories and the Black Sea slave trade originating from the Balkans and Caucasus.

Under the “Devshirme” system, Christian boys were conscripted and forced to convert to Islam, trained to serve as slave soldiers (the Janissaries). The gradual rolling back of Ottoman imperial slavery was ultimately the result of Western pressure.

Note here that white slavery, in a de facto sense, wasn’t unknown in the early United States, either. According to the 2007 book White Cargo, in fact, more than 300,000 white de facto slaves were sent from Europe to the United States over two centuries. And among some groups within this number, the mortality rate was 25-50 percent.

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Gavin Newsom approves slavery reparations agency

Gavin Newsom on Friday approved a new state agency to administer restitution for descendants of slaves — a victory for Black lawmakers and advocates despite stopping short of providing cash reparations.

The Democratic governor signed the legislation, SB 518, five years after forming a task force in the wake of George Floyd’s murder to study the legacy of slavery in California and how the state could implement reparations policies — and more than two years after the panel released its extensive recommendations.

Newsom mentioned the bill during a conversation about racism on the podcast “Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay.”

“I signed a bill two days ago with the Black Caucus as it relates to creating a new office to address these systemic issues,” he said during an episode released Friday morning.

Pushing reparations proposals across the finish line has proved challenging — especially as the post-pandemic political climate shifted rightward and the state confronted multibillion-dollar budget deficits. Newsom himself threw cold water on the notion of writing checks to descendants of slaves when he said in 2023, “Dealing with the legacy of slavery is about much more than cash payments.”

Last year, late amendments sought by Newsom, combined with caucus in-fighting, sank the effort to stand up a new reparations agency. The governor later vetoed a bill that would have provided redress for victims of racially-motivated eminent domain, noting the state lacked an agency to administer the program.

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California Passes Reparations in College Admissions, Despite Prop 209

The California legislature passed a bill last week that would provide reparations to descendants of slaves in the form of college admissions — despite Proposition 209, which forbids the use of race in college admissions.

The bill, AB 7, provides that California State University, the University of California, independent institutions of higher education … and private postsecondary educational institutions … may consider providing a preference in admissions to an applicant who is a descendant of slavery.” It applies to anyone “who can establish direct lineage to a person who, before 1900, was subjected to American chattel slavery.”

Proposition 209, passed in 1996 and reaffirmed by California voters in 2020, bans the use of race in college admissions and for other public purposes. Supporters of AB 7 say that “descendant of slavery” is race-neutral.

The Los Angeles Times reports that AB 7 is only one of several reparations bills passed by the legislature:

Earlier this week, the Democratic-led Legislature also passed Senate Bill 518, which would create a new office called the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery. That bureau would create a process to determine whether someone is the descendant of a slave and to certify someone’s claim to help them access benefits.

The legislature also approved Assembly Bill 57, by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Hawthorne), which would help descendants of slavery build generational wealth by becoming homeowners.

…

The Legislature also passed McKinnor’s AB 67, which sets up a process for people who said they or their families lost property to the government through “racially motivated eminent domain” to seek to have the property returned or to be paid.

Newsom will now consider the bills. He signed a formal apology for slavery last year, after declining to back bills that would have provided cash reparations.

California entered the Union as a Free State in 1850.

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Africa joins campaign to claim reparations from Britain for ‘historic crimes’

Africa has officially joined the push to demand reparations from Britain and other former colonial powers for ‘historic crimes’, including slavery and imperialism.

The African Union, which represents all 55 nations on the continent, has called for ‘meaningful reparations’ from European powers for exploiting Africa’s people, land and resources and blamed colonialism for ongoing ‘systemic injustice’ across the region.

At a joint summit in Addis Ababa with Caribbean leaders, the bloc said it would team up with countries across the Atlantic to seek compensation and what it called ‘reparatory justice’.

Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, the Djiboutian politician heading up the African Union Commission, said the two regions would now work together to ‘honour our ancestors, to uplift our descendants and reclaim our shared destiny in freedom, justice and unity’.

It comes as Caribbean nations – under the Caricom alliance of 15 states – have already demanded trillions in compensation for slavery. Now African leaders are expected to draw up their own list of demands.

Britain, which at the height of its empire controlled a quarter of Africa, could find itself facing fresh claims – not just for its involvement in the slave trade, but for the broader impact of colonialism and what has been described as ongoing ‘structural and systemic injustice’.

Reparations are now being framed more broadly, not only in terms of slavery, but also the return of cultural artefacts, reforms to global economic systems, and compensation for climate change impacts. 

Leaders argue that the industrialised nations of the ‘Global North’ bear historical responsibility for environmental degradation.

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Anti White Legislation Proposed in California Taps University System For Verifying Student Reparations

According to Campus Reform, The California State University system “could soon be required to verify whether students descend from enslaved Americans under a bill advancing in the state legislature.”

The bill known as 437 advanced in the Senate authored by state Senator Akilah Weber directed CSU to establish a process by which genealogical eligibility for reparations could be verified.

The bill passed in the Senate and was now set for a hearing in the Assembly. As Campus Reform points out “while the bill does not mandate that CSU directly implement reparations screening, Weber’s office told Campus Reform that the university system would help develop methods the state could use to verify lineage.”

CSU as of now has not put out an official statement about these proposed reparations. S.B 437 is part of a full package of reparations-related legislation.

Sadly, California is not alone in their reparations as part of so called ‘higher education’. In 2022 Harvard pledged $100 million to a “Legacy of Slavery” fund.

This was not enough for Howard University’s Knight Chair of race and Journalism who argued this was insufficient and told The New York Times magazine “A true investment would be hundreds of millions more,”

This is proof yet again that the race hustlers will never be satisfied no matter what crazy initiatives liberal universities take.

Reparations are clearly a bad and fundamentally unjust idea.

Harvard like CSU is pandering and engaging in prejudiced behavior and yet despite this its still not enough for some.

Ultimately Americans overwhelmingly agree reparations are unfair and predjucial. This proposal would be cruel and unAmerican.

American universities must be purged of DEI and racial division.

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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to Roll Out Race-Based Grants as Reparations: “Investing in Black is Not a Criminal Act”

Ahead of Juneteenth, far-left Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed Executive Order 2024-1 to create a “Black Reparations Agenda”—a government-sanctioned program that will funnel taxpayer dollars into grants and programs exclusively for Black residents, under the guise of “reparative justice.”

The new executive order calls for a sweeping “Reparations Task Force” to develop a plan focused on redressing historical wrongs allegedly tied to slavery and Jim Crow laws—neither of which existed in the state of Illinois. The end goal? Handouts based entirely on race.

“Today’s Executive Order is not just a public declaration; it is a pledge to shape the future of our city by confronting the legacy of inequity that has plagued Chicago for far too long,” said far-left Mayor Brandon Johnson.

“In partnership with the Chicago City Council Black Caucus and our dedicated allies, we are continuing to build on the bedrock of my administration to move forward in reconciliation through targeted investments aimed at rectifying decades of deliberate disinvestment in Black neighborhoods and communities.

“These decisive actions move us beyond words and are a testament to my administration taking on the responsibility of this work. Thank you to all for your unwavering dedication that has brought us to this pivotal moment toward a more just and equitable Chicago for all.”

During the signing ceremony, Johnson made it crystal clear this isn’t about unity—it’s about prioritizing one racial group above all others.

“Our way will bring to Black residents in reclaiming ownership of our own communities. That is the spirit of Juneteenth, you all. It is about reflecting on our past. Other cultures are taught to never forget.

“We need to be reminded as Blacks here in Chicago and America, remembering our past and working towards a more just future. Investing in Black is not a criminal act. Says she need a witness, so I’m going to say it again. Investing in Black is not a criminal act.”

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Maryland governor vetoes reparations bill

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) says he has vetoed a state-approved bill to create a commission to study and recommend reparations for slavery and racial discrimination. 

In his veto letter sent Friday, Moore pointed to several commissions the state has already approved, including the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the State Commission to Coordinate the Study, Commemoration, and Impact of the History and Legacy of Slavery in Maryland. 

“I will always protect and defend the full history of African Americans in our state and country,” Moore wrote in his letter. “But in light of the many important studies that have taken place on this issue over nearly three decades, now is the time to focus on the work itself: Narrowing the racial wealth gap, expanding homeownership, uplifting entrepreneurs of color, and closing the foundational disparities that lead to inequality — from food insecurity to education.”

Moore, the state’s first Black governor and the nation’s only sitting Black governor, also pointed to the rise of Black politicians in recent years, including Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D), who is Maryland’s first Black female senator, and noted the state has a Black attorney general, Black state House Speaker and Black treasurer.

“We have moved in partnership with leaders across the state to uplift Black families and address racial disparities in our communities,” Moore said. “That is the context in which I’ve made this difficult decision. Because while I appreciate the work that went into this legislation, I strongly believe now is not the time for another study. Now is the time for continued action that delivers results for the people we serve.”

The bill, a top priority of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, detailed a host of potential reparations, including official statements of apology, financial compensation, assistance with making a down payment on a home, debt forgiveness and tuition payment waivers for higher education.

The bill passed last month with a 101-36 vote in the state’s House.  

The Legislative Black Caucus condemned Moore’s veto Friday.

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INSANITY: Democrat Rep. Summer Lee to Introduce “Reparations Now” Resolution Demanding TRILLIONS from U.S. Taxpayers for Slavery That Ended 160 Years Ago

Far-left Democrat Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) announced she will introduce the “Reparations Now Resolution” on Thursday—demanding trillions of dollars be handed out to Black Americans in the name of so-called “racial justice.”

The radical push was unveiled during a congressional race grievance circus hosted by Democrat Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) on Tuesday, May 13, titled “Why We Can’t Wait: Advancing Reparative Justice in Our Lifetime.”

Booker was joined by the usual far-left suspects: Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), and Summer Lee.

According to its press release:

The briefing will highlight the urgent need for federal legislative action to address historical and systemic racial injustices. Key federal legislation includes:

  • S.40 / H.R. 40 – Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act (Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Ayanna Pressley)
  • Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Commission Act (Sen. Cory Booker,  Rep. Jasmine Crockett)
  • S. 1051 – Historic Greenwood District – Black Wall Street National Monument Establishment Act (Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. James Lankford)
  • Reparations Now Resolution (Rep. Summer Lee)
  • G.I. (Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren of the Institutionalized Generation) Restoration Act (Sen. Raphael Warnock)
  • Restoring Artistic Protection (RAP) Act (Rep. Hank Johnson)
  • Tulsa-Greenwood Claims Accountability Act (Rep. Hank Johnson)
  • H.J.Res.67 – Original Slavery Remembrance Month Resolution (Rep. Al Green)

During the event, Lee boldly declared that Americans have a “moral and legal obligation” to pay reparations, according to Fox News.

She called for the total reconstruction of American society — not to serve all Americans, but to cater to a progressive agenda based on grievance politics.

She went on to suggest that “restoring Black folks” requires a vast and “substantive” redistribution of wealth.

The resolution itself cites slavery, Jim Crow laws, redlining, and so-called “systemic racism” as justification for this unprecedented financial demand. But what it fails to mention is that no living American has ever owned a slave, and this push for reparations would punish millions of Americans — including veterans, and working-class families — for sins they never committed.

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WOW! Kamala Harris Says She’s Considering Taxpayer Funded Reparations for Black People

Kamala Harris joined black radio host Charlamagne Tha God for a live audio town hall where she indicated that she’s considering reparations for black people if elected president. 

It can be recalled that Charlamagne Tha God is the same radio host who Joe Biden told, “You ain’t black” if you don’t vote for him in 2020.

The Gateway Pundit reported on Kamala’s scripted town hall, which was still a disaster despite not even being on camera.

The town hall abruptly ended as Kamala Harris rambled on about nonsense.

During the show, Harris was asked about her stance on reparations, and she said that the idea “needs to be studied.”

She then continued with her typical talking point that she “grew up in the middle class.”

After the last four years, we all deserve reparations for suffering under the Harris-Biden Regime while illegal aliens receive handouts paid for by our hard-earned money.

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