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Black activists are sounding the alarm over potential repercussions for Vice President Kamala Harris after California state lawmakers recently rejected two key reparations bills. The bills, Senate Bills 1403 and 1331, aimed to establish a fund and an overseeing agency for reparations, but were sidelined amidst fears of a gubernatorial veto.
The California legislature did approve measures for the return of seized land and a formal apology for past injustices against Black individuals, but these did not include widespread direct payments. Activists voiced their frustration vehemently on the final day of the legislative session, demanding immediate action on the stalled bills.
One activist, representing the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California, criticized lawmakers for their reluctance to advance the reparations bills, attributing the delay to fear of Governor Gavin Newsom’s disapproval. “They’re killing their own bills because they’re scared of the governor,” the activist declared, urging swift action.
Another coalition member issued a warning, stating that Kamala Harris, who is presently running for president, would suffer grave consequences from the inaction. “The governor needs to understand that this is going to have a direct impact on your friend Kamala Harris,” added the activist. The suggestion is that Harris’s political status when she runs for higher office may be impacted by the lack of progress on reparations.
State Senator Steven Bradford, who authored the rejected bills, expressed disappointment over the failure to advance the measures, citing a lack of political courage in the face of gubernatorial opposition. “We owe it to our ancestors,” Bradford said, urging his colleagues to reconsider and push the bills forward.
California Legislative Black Caucus Chair Assemblymember Lori Wilson acknowledged the challenges but emphasized the need for a multi-year effort to achieve the goals of the reparations proposals. “We knew from the very beginning that it was an uphill battle,” Wilson stated.
Governor Newsom has not yet made a public statement regarding the specific reparations bills but has signed a budget that includes funding for reparations-related initiatives. His administration has indicated mixed support for various aspects of reparations legislation.
Democratic Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, who led the effort to draft a formal apology bill, presented the legislation as an homage to his family’s civil rights struggle. In spite of this, there are still a lot of barriers in the way of the legislative momentum for larger reparations.
As the debate over reparations continues, the outcome of California’s legislative session could have far-reaching implications for both state and national politics, especially as Vice President Harris navigates her presidential campaign.