The final meeting of the California Reparations Task Force concluded on Thursday with a highly charged atmosphere, marked by passionate pleas and fervent demands for reparations from attendees during the public comment period.
Several Californians seized the opportunity to address the board directly, their voices echoing through the room as they insisted that the time for reparations is "now!" One individual rallied the crowd to raise their fists and chant their demands, while another called for a symbolic "divorce" settlement between Black Americans and the rest of the country, seeking equitable division of resources.
This final gathering marked the culmination of a series of public forums held to discuss potential reparations for African Americans in California, addressing historical injustices and systemic discrimination stemming from slavery and its enduring legacy.
The meeting followed the nine-member panel's official recommendation last month that California lawmakers allocate funds for reparations to eligible Black residents based on historical discrimination. The task force proposed that qualified individuals could receive up to $1.2 million.
The first speaker, a Black woman, delivered a poignant account of her ancestors' struggles, emphasizing their lack of compensation for enslavement and exclusion from the "promise of America." She expressed gratitude to the task force and commended Governor Gavin Newsom for his role in enabling the task force's work.
The atmosphere intensified with the second speaker, Reggie Romaine, who argued that the proposed reparations amount was insufficient. He advocated for a symbolic national "divorce" between Black Americans and the rest of the country, demanding half of the nation's resources, including land, money, and legal fees, as a form of equitable settlement.
Romaine's impassioned speech, referencing the arrival of enslaved Africans in 1619 and the subsequent atrocities they endured, resonated with the audience, who applauded his call for a national "divorce" and equitable distribution of resources.
Another speaker, Donnie Brown, further energized the crowd, leading them in a chant demanding reparations "now!" The room filled with raised fists and resounding calls for immediate action.
Fox News Digital has contacted the Reparations Task Force for comment on the meeting and is awaiting a response.
