The Issues That Shaped 2025 According to Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson

In November 2024, Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson made history as the first African American elected to the California State Senate south of Los Angeles County. A board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist, she also established the Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology Division at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego. As Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), she has recently worked on a significant legislative package titled ‘Road to Repair,’ aimed at implementing the recommendations of the California Reparations Task Force. The CLBC is steadfast in advocating for reparations for the descendants of enslaved individuals, addressing historical injustices and discrimination. In a recent conversation with California Black Media, Weber Pierson highlighted the importance of bills SB 437 and SB 518, which could pioneer the nation's first agency devoted to addressing the needs of descendants of American chattel slavery. She emphasized the necessity of proactive measures against federal policy injustices and the need for a continued commitment to democracy and equality for Black Californians.

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