Two key bills aimed at providing reparations to descendants of enslaved Black Americans in California failed to pass the state legislature on Saturday, leaving advocates disappointed and raising questions about the political will to address historical injustices, Fox News reports.
Senate Bills 1331 and 1403, authored by Democratic state Senator Steven Bradford, would have established a state fund for reparations and a state agency to oversee the program, respectively. The bills were seen as crucial steps in California’s efforts to atone for the legacy of racist policies that continue to disadvantage Black communities.
Despite support from many lawmakers, the bills ultimately stalled, with the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) pulling them from consideration. CLBC Chair Assemblymember Lori Wilson said that the bills needed more work, while Bradford attributed the decision to fears of a veto by Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Coalition for a Just & Equitable California, a group advocating for reparations, accused the CLBC of refusing to bring the bills to a vote despite having the necessary votes for passage.
Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli, who had expressed support for a debate on the issue, attempted to bring the bills to a vote but failed to find a second from any other lawmaker. He accused Democrats of “going into hiding” and refusing to bring the bills to a vote despite years of promises to provide direct cash reparations.
While Governor Newsom has not publicly commented on these specific bills, he did sign a budget in June that included $12 million for reparations legislation. However, the budget did not specify which proposals would receive the funding, and the administration has indicated opposition to some of the reparations proposals.
