New Yorkers For Reparations Celebrate Launch Of New York State Reparations Commission

Photos: YouTube Screenshots New York, NY —  New Yorkers for Reparations has assembled statements from a diverse group of public figures and advocacy organizations representing New Yorkers across the state, in support of Thursday’s official launch of the historic New York State Reparations Commission and excitement for what the commission does in the coming months.  The commission is tasked with reckoning with the whole truth of the state’s history, and recommending how to repair the ongoing impacts and lingering effects of segregation, discrimination, and enslavement on Black communities. It will investigate and document these historical injustices and based on its findings, the commission will recommend policies that can address and remedy our history of harm. New York is now the second state after California to launch such a body with the selected commissioners with the necessary expertise, experience, and values for giving New Yorkers a transformative roadmap for righting the wrongs of injustice in our state from its foundation. This comes after a successful campaign by advocacy groups to get the Democratic-controlled legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul to enact the commission into law shortly before the new year, 108 organizations signed a letter endorsing the commission and youth activists led...