Activists Protest Legislature’s Decision to Stall 2 Reparations Bills

Protesters calling for the passage of reparations bills gather Aug. 31 in the Capitol rotunda in Sacramento, California. Travis Gillmore/The Epoch Times

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Two proposals aiming to advance reparations for descendants of enslaved African Americans were shelved by the California Legislature on Aug. 31, the last day of the 2023-2024 legislative session.

At issue are two proposals introduced by state Sen. Steven Bradford of Inglewood: Senate Bill 1331 would establish a fund to receive state and federal funds to distribute reparations payments in the future. Senate Bill 1403 would create an agency to implement recommendations made last year by the state’s Reparations Task Force—a panel of nine members established by Assembly Bill 3121 in 2020 to study and develop reparations proposals—in its final report. Hundreds of recommendations were made spanning more than 1,000 pages.

The bills were part of a package of 14 reparations measures proposed this year by the California Black Caucus—a group of 15 lawmakers representing the state’s Senate and Assembly and dedicated to advancing legislation that benefits black communities.

The senator’s office told The Epoch Times on Aug. 31 that he did not want the bills to be pulled and would work until the session was gaveled out at midnight to have the proposals voted on.

Dozens of protesters lined the hallway of the Capitol rotunda voicing their displeasure with the bills’ demise.

“I think a lot of us are shocked, outraged, and enraged,” Chris Lodgson, lead organizer and advocate for the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California—a nonprofit focused on securing reparations for descendants of slaves—told The Epoch Times during the protest. “Never would I have thought that our own Black Caucus members would kill their own reparations bills.”

He said reports that amendments requested by California Gov. Gavin Newsom potentially led to the bills being scrapped, are concerning. The amendments sought to make the bills order a study instead of specific actions.  

“What’s unacceptable and horrible about that is that the caucus does not have to do what the governor says,” Lodgson said. “The caucus can bring the bills, we have the votes, and if the governor wants to veto the bills ... let him veto the bills and look the public in the eye and tell them why.”

Newsom’s office did not respond to requests for comment on deadline.

Some protesters said the caucus should have resisted the governor’s demands.

“For caucus members to surrender to that ... is cowardly,” Lodgson said, with a handful of other advocates echoing his sentiment.

Lodgson expressed fear that his actions demanding accountability could result in retribution from some lawmakers.

“They’re going to be mad at me, and they’re going to retaliate against us because we’re telling the people the truth.”

Republican Assemblyman Bill Essayli motioned to bring AB 1331 to the floor on multiple occasions to force a vote. On the first attempt, Assembly members convened around the dais, discussing the matter for 12 minutes. Ultimately, Essayli was advised by acting Assistant Speaker pro Tem Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen that the house was working on other items on the agenda. No other members came forward to second the motion.

Assemblyman Bill Essayli addresses the Legislature Aug. 31 on the floor of the Assembly at the Capitol in Sacramento. Travis Gillmore/The Epoch Times

Assembly Speaker pro Tem  Jim Wood rejected the second attempt because the bills had been placed in the inactive file and were “the property of the house.” 

The legislator asking for the bills to be heard said the decision to kill the proposals—by some lawmakers who previously expressed support—suggests that they were not willing to fight for the bills’ passage.

“This is something the Democratic Party has been promising with no intentions of following through,” Essayli told The Epoch Times on the Assembly floor after his motions were denied. “I think they should go on record in front of everyone and take a vote. I’m in favor of having the conversation.”

He suggested the Legislature’s passage of other bills providing aid to illegal immigrants for health care and housing assistance is especially problematic and said that although he does not support reparations, he’d rather see the money be sent to “disadvantaged communities in America.”

“I do believe we need to have a conversation about making direct investments and important policy changes into communities that have been harmed by past injustices. This is a conversation Republicans are very much open to having,” he said in his X post.

“If we have billions to give to illegal immigrants, then why don’t we have billions to invest in our own American communities?” he added.

In a statement early in the day Aug. 31, the Black Caucus said the members were choosing to prioritize certain bills over others and said the questions surrounding AB 1403 were new to them.

“The caucus has been unable to participate in the legislative process collectively and only recently became aware of the concerns and issues with the bill in its current form,” the statement reads.

The caucus statement said there were concerns that the text of the bill “ceded legislative oversight authority which is critical given the generational impact this legislation would have.”

The lawmakers will reintroduce a version of the bill in the next session, the statement said.

“We understand that the legislative process is complex and doesn’t always unfold as initially envisioned,” the caucus wrote. “The work of advancing reparations and achieving justice is far from complete, and we will not be distracted from our mission.”

The group said AB 1331 was not part of its priority package and referred all requests for comment to the bill’s author.

One caucus member spoke with protesters in the Capitol and later expressed his thoughts on social media.

“We didn’t come this far to only come this far,” Assemblyman Isaac Bryan posted Sept. 2 on X. “The Black Caucus and broader black community are linked in a way that is inseparable—the goals and the work have to be too.”

Assemblyman Isaac Bryan speaks with protesters at the Capitol in Sacramento on Aug. 31. Travis Gillmore/The Epoch Times

Bryan acknowledged the frustration felt by protesters and said lawmakers respect their opinions.

“I understand people who are hurting right now. I am too,” he said. “And, to the people who came out to the Capitol—don’t stop. Next year we will need even more pressure.”

Another caucus member said the struggle over reparations legislation is particularly challenging but that the work will continue.

“We knew from the very beginning that it was an uphill battle,” Black Caucus chair Assemblymember Lori Wilson told reporters at the Capitol on Aug. 31. “And we also knew from the very beginning that it would be a multiyear effort.”