Boston activists demand reparations from local ‘white’ churches

BOSTON (TND) — The Boston People’s Reparations Commission demanded Saturday churches in the city provide Black residents with reparations, according to several local outlets. Kevin Peterson, a civil rights activist with the organization, reportedly argued Boston churches propagated slavery. Many of the well-known white churches in downtown Boston are connected to the slave trade and the proliferation of what was a ‘slavetocracy’ in our city,” he claimed, according to WHDH. John Gibbons, a unitarian church minister, purportedly stated religious officials were among Boston leaders most likely to enslave people. “Beginning in the 17th century, all of our colonial churches were founded on the profits of slavery,” he said, according to WHDH. “Colonial ministers were among the most likely to have enslaved servants.” READ MORE | Maryland considering reparations bill that would raise taxes for ‘reinvestment’ fund The commission has previously called for Boston to pay $15 billion for its role as the center of the New England slave trade. Approximately 12% of the city’s population was enslaved people in the early 1700s. What we’re doing is we’re mobilizing, having conversations, educating the community about Boston’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, the disparities within the communities, and we’re working towards...