Group of Memphians call for withdrawal of bill that could deny reparations

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) – There is a call to action to stop a bill making its way through the state House and Senate chambers. If passed, the bill would not allow local governments to give reparations to descendants of slaves. It’s a bill that was introduced in 2023 and halted just over a year ago, but now it is moving again. House Bill 0474 sponsored by Representative John Ragan of Anderson County is up for discussion on April 10. The Senate version of the bill, Senate Bill 0429 is sponsored by Senator Brent Taylor of Shelby County. According to online records, in April of last year the Senate adopted and passed Senate Bill 0429 as amended. The amendment rewrote the bill to “prohibit a county, municipality, or metropolitan government from expending funds for the purposes of studying or disbursing reparations.” Reparations meaning money or benefits provided to people who are the descendants of people who were enslaved. The House version was up for discussion on Thursday but was moved to April 10. A group in Memphis has started a petition to get the bill withdrawn immediately. “I don’t think it will impact what is happening in Shelby County as it...