Annapolis, Maryland– Maryland will form a commission to study potential reparations for slavery after lawmakers voted Tuesday to override a veto by Gov. Wes Moore — currently the only Black governor in the country — that disappointed many of his Democratic colleagues.
Moore said in his book Veto letter In May, it was difficult to decide to veto the bill priority From the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus. But he wrote that there had been enough study of the legacy of slavery, and now was the time to “focus on the work itself” to address it.
But Democrats who control both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly decided a commission was needed to study how to do it better.
“This is not an easy topic, but again, without formal study, reparations may be dismissed as tokenistic or unconstitutional, regardless of moral merit,” said Democratic Senator Charles Sydnor.
After overriding the veto, Moore said that although he disagreed with the Legislature’s decision, “I am eager to move forward in partnership on the reform work that we all agree is a pressing and urgent need.”
“I believe the time for action is now, and we must continue to move forward with repair work immediately,” Moore said in a statement. “This mission is especially vital given the direct and ongoing impacts of this federal administration on our constituents, including communities that have historically been left behind.”
Possible compensation described in Invoice They include official statements of apology, monetary compensation, property tax abatements, and social service assistance, as well as waiver and reimbursement of license and permit fees. Compensation can also include assistance with a home down payment, business incentives, child care, debt relief, and higher education tuition relief.
Maryland’s black population is about 30%, the highest of any state outside the Deep South.
Support for reparations gained momentum in the wake of the revolution The killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. However, the case has been a difficult one, especially for prominent Democrats, and comes amid broader criticism. Conservative backlash On how to address race, history, and inequality in public institutions.
“At a time when attacks on diversity and equality are increasing, today’s action reaffirms our shared commitment to truth telling, accountability, and tangible progress for Black Marylanders,” the state Legislative Black Caucus said in a statement.
In October, California Gov. Gavin Newsom He presented a mixed group of supporters of bills aimed at addressing racist and discriminatory policies against African Americans. he I signed the law Authorizes $6 million for California State University to study how to confirm one’s status as a descendant of an enslaved person. But he vetoed other bills championed by the California Legislative Black Caucus as tools to atone for the state’s history.
Newsom, who thinks Running for president In 2028, she signed a law last year to formally apologize for slavery and its lingering effects on Black Californians.
Moore has said he does not plan to run for president in 2028, but he has continued to build a national profile that has attracted the attention of critics as a potential contender for the White House.
New York City legislators Approved legislation last year to study the city’s important role in slavery and consider reparations for descendants of slaves.
In 2021, Evanston, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, It became the first American city To create a reparations plan for its black residents, using tax revenues from the sale of recreational marijuana.
A few years ago, Americans viewed the prospect of reparations mostly negatively. A 2021 Pew Research Center poll found that only about 3 in 10 American adults said descendants of enslaved people in the United States should be compensated in some way, such as grants of land or money. About 7 in 10 said those grandchildren should not be repaid.
Maryland lawmakers did not address the issue of congressional redistricting in their one-day special session. Moore expressed interest in pursuing a new map, which could emerge when lawmakers meet in January for their annual 90-day session. However, the state Senate president said he does not support moving forward with a new map. Democrats have a 7-1 advantage over Republicans in the state’s eight congressional districts.