Members of the Maryland Lynch Truth and Reconciliation Commission are expressing their disagreement with Governor Wes Moore’s stance against forming a reparations commission. They argue that their mission aligns with his calls for immediate action.
“That’s the plan,” Nicholas M. Crery, a committee member, shared. He mentioned that they expect a bill to come out this year. As for the governor’s approach, Crery speculated that he might believe more discussion or study is necessary, but noted that the reparations committee’s role would extend beyond analysis to also making actionable recommendations.
Established in 2019, the Maryland Lynch Truth and Reconciliation Commission recently released its final report, recognized as the first nationally-led effort in the U.S. to investigate and document the history of racial terror lynching.
Governor Moore has vetoed the establishment of a Maryland Reparations Commission, citing a need for swift progress over further examination. In this context, he expressed his belief during an interview that past studies should suffice, adding, “What are we studying?”
Despite the veto, Maryland lawmakers have overridden it. The new reparations commission will consist of 23 members tasked with reviewing policies from the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras, and it will propose various forms of reparative measures, from financial compensation to formal apologies.
While members of the Maryland Lynch Truth and Reconciliation Commission emphasized their separate focus, they defended the interconnectedness of their work. Charles Chavis, a commission member, suggested that their efforts could help address critical issues the governor is aiming to tackle regarding racial justice.
In its findings, the commission reported state involvement in 38 lynchings post-Civil War, with no accountability for the perpetrators. Among its 84 recommendations, one suggests providing $100,000 to each descendant of a lynching victim as a form of atonement.
The recommendations cover diverse areas such as public acknowledgments, educational initiatives, and community healing. Some commissioners suggest that reparations are about more than just financial recompense. David Fakunle pointed out that educating the public on Maryland’s historical injustices is a vital part of the process, which shouldn’t solely be about money.
“We must show patience,” Fakunle commented, emphasizing the broader implications of their work. Chavis expressed pride in the report, as it aligns with the governor’s concerns, asserting that it sheds further light on the need for urgent reforms to address historical injustices affecting communities today.
As of now, there hasn’t been a response from Moore’s office regarding these developments.
