Protests erupted at the California State Capitol on Saturday after two significant reparations bills authored by Democrat State Senator Steven Bradford were shelved, FOX News reports.
Senate Bills 1331 and 1403, which sought to expand reparations for Black Americans descended from enslaved African Americans, were unable to pass the legislature.
Senate Bill 1403 suggested setting up a state agency to oversee reparations initiatives and establish eligibility, while Senate Bill 1331 sought to create a new state fund specifically for reparations. In order to address historical racial injustices, such as differences in housing, education, and health, both bills were considered essential components.
Despite other legislative measures addressing racial injustices being passed, none proposed direct payments to African-Americans. Bradford suggested that the bills were not put up for a vote due to concerns that Governor Gavin Newsom might veto them, and urged his colleagues to reconsider the bills.
“We’re at the finish line, and we, as the Black Caucus, owe it to the descendants of chattel slavery, to Black Californians and Black Americans, to move this legislation forward,” Bradford said.
Assemblymember Lori Wilson, Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, stated that the caucus decided to pull the bills for additional 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 explained.
The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) declared on social media that it would reintroduce SB 1403 during the upcoming legislative session, stating that it was only recently made aware of concerns about the bill. Additionally, the CLBC affirmed that SB 1331 would not proceed this year. Reparations supporters protested at the Capitol following the decision. Despite having the required support, the CLBC was chastised by the Coalition for a Just & Equitable California for failing to put the bills to a vote.
“This type of betrayal cannot go unanswered. There must be a political price to pay,” the group stated on social media.
Bill Essayli, a Republican assembly member from California, suggested voting on the bills, but no other legislators supported his proposal. Essayli charged that Democrats were evading responsibility and not keeping their reparations pledges.
“Politicians cannot be allowed to make promises to the people who elect them and then hide when it’s time to go on record,” Essayli said.
Before the legislative session ended, the two bills were placed on the inactive file. While signing a nearly $300 billion state budget in June that included up to $12 million for initiatives related to reparations, Governor Newsom has not yet commented on the majority of the bills pertaining to reparations. To decide whether to sign additional reparations bills into law, Newsom has until September 30. His office cited earlier remarks made by Newsom, emphasizing his involvement with the Black Caucus and his evaluation of reparations recommendations.
