California Shelves Two Key Reparations Bills, Advocates Protest Decision

California‘s movement toward implementing reparations for slavery and anti-Black racism hit an abrupt roadblock as the state’s Assembly adjourned without a vote on two of the most important measures emerging from the state’s Reparations Task Force. As the fate of the largest reparations initiative in the United States remains uncertain, Black state legislators are pointing fingers at the governor’s office and each other for the failure to advance. Two key reparations bills shelved over disagreements Spectrum News 1 reported that the California Assembly adjourned Saturday night to end the legislative year without passing two critical reparations proposals the state Senate had approved. SB 1403 would have created the California American Freedmen Affairs agency tasked with administering reparations programs within the state. SB 1331 would have established a new state fund for reparations efforts. However, the California Black Legislative Caucus decided not to bring either bill to a vote before the legislative session ended. Reparations advocates who had traveled to Sacramento to support the bills were angered that the Assembly refused to vote on both proposals and protested the decision at the capitol.  Various politicians and activists passed around blame for the failure to vote on the proposals. State Sen. Steven...