Advocates Demand Action on Reparations During Gov’s Special Legislative Session

Reparations demonstrations – Shutterstock via CBM *A coalition of community leaders and reparations advocates are demanding that the California legislature, Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Gov. Gavin Newsom act decisively on reparations bills that have stalled in the Legislature. They are calling on the state leaders to pass the bills during the special legislative session the Governor called this month to secure up to $25 million for California “to defend against unconstitutional or unlawful federal government actions” expected during the incoming Trump administration. The advocates are also urging that the push for reparations for Californians who are descendants of enslaved Black people in the United States continues next year during the regular session, which begins when the Legislature convenes on Jan. 6, 2025. “California has a proud history of leading difficult change in America from environmental policies to safety standards to same-sex marriages and the like,” said Tullus Miller, a Bay Area financial services executive. Miller was speaking during an engagement held on Dec. 2 on the grounds of the State Capitol with the California Native American Monument as the backdrop. The California Native American Monument, erected in November 2023, is the only Supporters of reparations in California held a...