OAKLAND, Calif. (Sept. 26, 2024) – The Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth (ARRT), a collaboration of California’s leading Black power-building and justice groups, expressed its disappointment with Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto of SB 1050 by Senator Steven Bradford, which would have helped people who have had property taken from them by the state without just compensation as a result of racially motivated eminent domain.
Along with the other bills in the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) legislative package, this bill would have been a historic step towards reparations and social justice.
While SB 1050 and other important measures failed this session, we acknowledge the complexities of the current fiscal and political environment and remain committed to advocating for meaningful and impactful progress. We urge our community and allies to remain steadfast.
ARRT urges Governor Gavin Newsom to sign the remaining bills on reparations before the September 30 deadline. The group strongly believes that it is imperative the governor sign all the bills sent to his desk.
Furthermore, all of the $12 million budget allocation should be directed towards the implementation of reparations policies, ensuring that it is sent directly to community members to repair the harms caused by the vestiges of chattel slavery and anti-Black racism. ARRT will not receive any part of that budget allocation.
ARRT also supports Proposition 6, which addresses one of the United Nations principles of reparations—cessation of harm and a guarantee of non-repetition—by amending the California Constitution to abolish slavery. Supporting this proposition is essential for furthering our commitment to ending systemic injustices.
ARRT opposes Proposition 36, which threatens to reverse our progress and return us to the failed War on Drugs policies that contributed to mass incarceration. Proposition 36 sustains the cycle of criminalizing Black communities by ignoring the California Reparations Task Force’s recommendations for healing. It reinforces oppressive systems and contradicts the principles of justice and rehabilitation advocated by the Task Force.
We call on media outlets to continue emphasizing the importance of comprehensive reparations and the current legislative efforts, ensuring public awareness and engagement in this critical issue.
By working together, we can foster a unified movement that not only challenges systemic and anti-Black racism but also promotes truth, healing, and reparative justice. It is imperative that we galvanize support, inform voters of the implications of each proposition, and inspire active participation in the electoral process. Together, we can ensure that truth, justice, and reconciliation prevail in California and beyond.
For further information about ARRT and to support the mission for reparations, visit https://alliancefor.org.
