Protests erupt at California state capitol after reparations bills shelved

Two bills related to reparations for descendants of enslaved Black Americans failed to pass the California Assembly on Saturday after supporters said the bills would not move forward.

Senate Bill 1331, authored by Democratic state Sen. Steven Bradford of Englewood, would create a new state fund for reparations, while Senate Bill 1403 would create a state agency to oversee the effort and determine who qualifies for reparations.

The measures were seen as key components of an ambitious effort by some lawmakers to pass legislation aimed at making amends for the legacy of racist policies that have led to inequalities for Black people in everything from housing to education to health.

California's Democratic-led legislature has passed a series of bills aimed at redressing past racial discrimination, but none of them provide direct payments to African Americans.

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Bradford said the bill did not move forward due to concerns that Gov. Gavin Newsom would veto it.

“We are at the finish line, and as the Congressional Black Caucus, we have a duty to the descendants of slavery, to Black Californians, and to Black Americans to move this bill forward,” Bradford said, urging his colleagues Saturday afternoon to reconsider.

California Legislative Black Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Lori Wilson said Saturday that the Black Caucus has withdrawn the bill, adding that the proposal needs more work.

Members of the Coalition for a Fair and Equitable California protested in the Rotunda in Sacramento, California on Saturday, August 31, 2024, the last day of the legislative year, demanding that lawmakers hold a vote on two reparations bills. (AP Photo/Tran Nguyen)

“We knew from the beginning it was going to be an uphill battle, and we knew from the beginning that this was going to be a multi-year effort,” Wilson told reporters.

In a statement posted on X, the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) said it had “not been able to collectively participate in the legislative process and only recently became aware of its concerns.” [SB 1403]”

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“The deadline for amendments has long since passed, therefore we have decided to continue work on this bill and resubmit it next session,” CLBC said. “As for the status of Senate Bill 1331, CLBC does not intend to move it forward this year.”

A group of protesters in support of reparations showed up to demonstrate at the Capitol on Saturday.

The Coalition for a Fair and Equitable California accused the CLBC of refusing to put the bill to a vote despite having the votes needed to pass it.

“Such betrayals cannot go unchecked. There must be a political price paid. The days when politicians of any race or party can disrespect Black Americans and expect no political repercussions are over. We are not prisoners. We do not belong to any party or special interest. We are the living embodiment of our ancestors who spent 400 years building this state and this country and who deserve reparations. We are coming… no… here we are. To get our checks and more,” the group wrote to X.

Members of the Coalition for a Fair and Equitable California protested in the Rotunda in Sacramento, California on Saturday, August 31, 2024, the last day of the legislative year, demanding that lawmakers hold a vote on two reparations bills. (AP Photo/Tran Nguyen)

Republican Rep. Bill Essari of Corona, California, made a motion to put the bill to a vote, but no other senators seconded the motion.

Essari accused Democrats of “promising for years to provide direct cash reparations to Americans harmed by slavery, yet when it came time to pass the bill, they 'hide' and refuse to bring it to a vote.”

Essari said he had spoken in good faith with supporters of the bill and made clear that while he does not support California taxpayers paying for the wrongdoings of slave states, “I believe there should be a debate and a recorded vote on this issue.”

“Politicians cannot make promises to the public and then hide like cowards when it comes time to speak out,” Essari said. “At the very least, the public should have the opportunity to have public hearings and find out where their elected representatives stand on this issue.”

SB 1331 and 1403 were placed in the inactive file just before midnight.

The Democratic governor has not been involved in most of the other reparations bills, but he did sign a nearly $300 billion budget in June that included up to $12 million for the reparations bill. But the budget doesn't specify what proposals the money would be used for, and his administration has expressed opposition to some of them. Newsom has until Sept. 30 to decide whether to sign the other bills that have become law.

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When reached for comment Saturday, the governor's office said Newsom told reporters earlier this year, “I [just] read [the Reparations report] “I've devoured it, I've analyzed it, I've stress-tested it against what we've done, what we're doing now, what we want to do that we can't do constitutionally. And I've worked closely with the Congressional Black Caucus.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.