By Antonio Ray Harvey
Contributing Writer
SACRAMENTO — Scores of advocates from across state protested at the State Capitol Aug. 31 after the state Legislature failed to bring two critical reparations bills to the floor for a full vote on the final day of the legislative session.
Chanting “What do we want? Reparations! When do we want it? Now!,” the advocates expressed their outrage and disappointment that Senate Bill 1403 and Senate Bill 1331 — both authored by state Sen. Steven Bradford, D-Inglewood — had stalled.
Despite advancing smoothly through much of the legislative process this year, the session concluded without a vote on both bills, leaving the future of reparations in California hanging in the balance.
“This is becoming a political disaster. It’s our own people holding this up,” said Chris Lodgson, a reparations advocate from the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California, blaming members of the California Legislative Black Caucus. Lodgson said the Legislature’s decision to pass another bill, Assembly Bill 1840, on Aug. 28, only heightened his frustration.
AB 1840, authored by Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, would allow eligible undocumented immigrants to purchase homes with state-backed financing through the California Dream for All Shared Appreciation Loan program.
AB 1840 passed the Assembly Aug. 28, and is now moving on to the governor for his consideration, prompting some in the Black community to feel overlooked.
“This tells me and Black Californians who are ancestors of slavery, who built this country we are not as important,” Lodgson said. “We’re not a priority or important as those other programs. That’s what is most infuriating and that’s what Black legislators are telling their people. That’s not going to be accepted.”
Tiffany Quarles, a reparations activist and supporter of Bradford’s bills, drove from Los Angeles to Sacramento to watch what she thought would be the passage of a historic bill.
“I am not disdained, and I am not discouraged,” Quarles said. “I came here to fight for Black Americans whose families were enslaved in this country. My family was enslaved in this country. So, I am not giving up. If they think that this is over, they are wrong. We still demand lineage-based reparations.”
Quarles said she believes Democratic leaders decided against advancing the bills because they are worried their decision would hurt Vice President Kamala Harris’s chances of winning the presidency.
“They will sacrifice Black America just to get her in, and that’s not right,” Quarles said.
According to Bradford, the governor’s office expressed some concerns over his reparation’s bills.
“They offered up some amendments that weren’t accepted by me,” Bradford said. “We had no indications of any amendments up until [Aug. 26].
“We had legislation that made it out of Assembly Appropriations Committee without one single amendment — not a single amendment was offered up,” Bradford added. “We moved these bills with the understanding that we had the votes to take it up on the Assembly floor. It was just some simple amendment that pretty much would have gutted SB 1403 and made it an additional study.”
Bradford, who served on the state’s Reparations Task Force, said the task force researched reparations for two years and delivered a 1,100-page report to the Legislature. Therefore, there is no need to conduct an additional study.
The California Legislative Black Caucus issued a statement on the final day of the legislative session confirming that SB 1403 would not be brought to a vote this session and would be reintroduced next session.
“The California Legislative Black Caucus remains steadfast in our commitment to advancing the CLBC 2024 Reparations Priority Legislative Package,” the statement read. “The CLBC has chosen to concentrate our collective energy on the legislative priorities that the entire caucus has voted on and those that positively impact Black Californians.”
The caucus reaffirmed its commitment to its 2024 reparations legislative package, despite SB 1403 and SB 1331 not being part of the original package. The caucus’ statement emphasized the complexity of the legislative process and its ongoing dedication to advancing reparative justice for Black Californians.
SB 1403 aimed to establish the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency to recommend measures for compensating Black Californians who are descendants of enslaved people. SB 1331 proposed the creation of the Fund for Reparations and Reparative Justice in the state treasury to fund policies approved by the Legislature and governor that address the harm done to descendants of enslaved African-American persons who experienced chattel slavery or free Black people living in the U.S. before the end of the 19th century.
Another bill in the legislative package, SB 1050, authored by Bradford and introduced for the vote by Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor, D-Inglewood, calls for the establishment of a process for California to review and investigate public complaints from individuals who claim their property was taken without just compensation as a result of racially motivated eminent domain.
The legislation also would establish a process for providing compensation to the rightful owner. That bill passed with a 56-0 vote on Aug. 29, marking a significant victory for those advocating for reparative justice.
“We understand that the legislative process is complex and does not always unfold as initially envisioned,” the CLBC statement continued. “However, we remain committed to our long-term goals and recognize that this is a multi-year effort.
According to the caucus, the work of advancing reparations and achieving justice for Black Californians is “far from complete.”
“We will not be distracted from our mission. We will stay focused on the work at hand, united in our purpose, and dedicated to the cause of reparations and equity for all. The CLBC will continue to lead with integrity and purpose, ensuring that our legislative efforts are impactful and meaningful for the communities we serve.”
Los Angeles Attorney Kamilah Moore, who served as chair of the Reparations Task Force, called the turn of events “unconscionable.”
“The bills sailed through various committees and people expected them to be introduced to the floor for a vote,” Moore said. “What happened was unexpected. It’s causing a lot of confusion and different emotions from the community.”
“I think it was unconscionable that no legislator had the courage to get up and introduce the bills, particularly the California Legislative Black Caucus. The CLBC is such an esteemed institution. They had the chance, and still have a chance, to do something historic.”
Antonio Ray Harvey is a reporter for California Black Media.
