Key takeaways:
- Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law that will create a commission to consider reparations for slavery in New York State.
- The commission will be tasked with examining slavery and discrimination against African-Americans, and will recommend reparations to repair the ongoing damage caused by slavery.
- The bill signing ceremony was attended by several state representatives, including Assemblyman Charles Barron, who sponsored the bill.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law on Tuesday morning that will create a commission to consider reparations for slavery in New York State. The bill, which passed 41-21 in the Senate and 106-41 in the Assembly, is part of a larger effort to address the persistent, harmful effects of slavery in the state.
At the bill signing ceremony in New York City, Gov. Hochul acknowledged the state’s role in the slave trade and said that while she knows many state residents do not support the bill, it had to be signed.
“For so many Black New Yorkers this is a historic step to help right the wrongs of the past,” said Hochul.
The legislation follows similar task forces in California and Illinois, and is part of a larger effort by states and towns throughout the United States to reckon with the country’s dark past. The commission will be tasked with examining slavery and discrimination against African-Americans, and will recommend reparations to repair the ongoing damage caused by slavery.
The bill signing ceremony was attended by several state representatives, including Assemblyman Charles Barron, who sponsored the bill. Barron said the commission is a “step in the right direction” and that he hopes it will lead to more meaningful reparations for African-Americans.
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