The California Reparations Task Force has proposed cash payments, systemic reforms, and an official apology for Black Californians in the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd and Gavin Floyd. The task force's report includes a rough estimate of $1.2 million per person as financial compensation over a lifetime due to the harm caused by systemic racism.
"The Legislature must issue an official apology that includes a list of 'the gravest barbarities carried out on behalf of the State'", said one member during their meeting on Saturday. Additionally, the report offers numerous policy ideas ranging from specific to broad changes involving justice system reform, housing rules alterations, and employment practices improvements.
The final text is due to be submitted to the Legislature on June 30th. The approval meeting was characterized by last-minute motions, crosstalk confusion about parliamentary procedure, and awareness of time constraints.
California's reparations task force voted Saturday to approve a report detailing state financial compensation for slavery alongside a formal apology. This nine-member committee first convened almost two years ago before giving its final approval at Saturday's meeting in Oakland.
A list containing proposals will now go forward for consideration by state lawmakers with regards to potential reparations legislation. The panel’s initial vote approved detailed accounts of historical discrimination in areas such as voting rights violations, housing inequality issues, disproportionate policing incidents and incarceration rates among others.
According to draft recommendations approved by this reparations task force members: "An apology crafted by lawmakers must include censure regarding 'the gravest barbarities' carried out on behalf of the state."
Prior estimates suggested that California owes black residents up to $800 billion; these new findings aim at addressing this long-overdue injustice through comprehensive measures focusing not only on monetary compensations but also structural adjustments aimed towards promoting social equity within society at large.