Advocacy
Creating California's Reparations Task Force: AB - 3121
History in the making.
In 2020, we worked hard alongside Assemblymember Dr. Shirley Weber to strengthen and enact AB - 3121, the State law that created America's first-in-the-nation Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans.
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Now, we're working to build strong public and community support in California for California Reparations, and make sure California creates and enacts strong Reparations legislation.
Recognizing Our Unique Lineage: SB-189 (Section 14)
We know who we are.
In 2021 and 2022, our all-volunteer team of Reparations advocates wrote language in legislation requiring California agencies to recognize the unique lineage of African-American Californians who descend from U.S. Chattel Slavery.
We are excited and thankful that the legislation was signed into law recently, making California the first state to collect data on descendants of U.S Slavery specifically, recognizing Black American Freedmen as the unique group of people we are!
Closing the Lineage Data Gap. AB-2089
Lineage Matters
Building on the success of SB-189 (Section 14), CJEC has authored AB-2089 (Holden) which will require ALL California cities and counties to create a category of data collection for residents who are descendants of persons enslaved in the U.S., starting with city and county employees.
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Building the Foundation for Reparations: SB-1403
We're closer to Reparations than we've ever been.
To make Reparations a reality for Californians whose Ancestors were enslaved in the U.S., residents need a place to go to apply for Reparations, show they’re eligible, have their Reparations claims and payments processed. SB-1403 creates a state Agency to do just that: The California American Freedmen Affairs Agency.
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FUND CA Reparations NOW! SB-1331
Reparations must be FUNDED!
SB1331 would create The California Reparations and Reparative Justice Fund to establish both a fund and funding source for Reparations. The funds must be used for Reparations policies that indemnify (i.e., compensate) residents who are descendants of people emancipated from Chattel Slavery in the U.S.
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Ending Slavery in California Prisons:
ACA - 8
End Slavery in California.
Slavery is still allowed in California, particularly in state prisons. So we're working hard to remove Slavery as punishment for a crime from our State Constitution. To that end, we're proud to be community co-sponsors of The End Slavery in California Act of 2023/2024.
Returning Stolen Property! SB-1050
Restitution NOW!
SB-1050 would require the California American
Freedman Affairs Agency to research and document
state properties acquired as a result of racially
motivated eminent domain and establish a process
for providing just compensation to the rightful owner
of such property contingent upon appropriation by
the Legislature.
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Tax Assistance for Descendants! SB-1013
Tax Relief NOW!
SB 1013 would establish the Property Tax
Assistance for Descendants of Enslaved Persons
Program. The program would make grants available
to persons who currently live in a formerly redlined
neighborhood in the state and are descendants of a
person enslaved in the United States.
Homeowner’s Assistance for Descendants! SB-1007
Building Generational Wealth
SB 1007 will establish the Homeowner’s
Assistance for Descendants of Enslaved Persons to
rectify the harms caused by racially discriminatory
housing practices by administering grants and
financial assistance for provable descendants of
enslaved persons to own their own homes.