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Senator James Sanders Jr., Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, Community Members and Elected Leaders Unite at Historic Event in Harlem During Harlem Week Calling on Governor Hochul to Sign Reparations Commission Legislation into Law
(New York, NY) Senator James Sanders Jr., Assemblymember Michaelle
Solages, and other elected leaders brought together community members
calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to sign a bill (S.1163-A/SANDERS Same
as A.7691/Solages) into law to establish the New York State Community
Commission on Reparations Remedies. The Commission would research the
harms from slavery and after slavery against African Americans in New
York and recommend remedies and reparations.
When signed, it would be the second state in the nation after California to form a reparations commission. This legislation acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the City of New York and the State of New York.
Senator James Sanders Jr., Chair of the NY State Senate Select Majority Task Force on Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises, and Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, Chair of The New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, hosted the historic Panel Discussion entitled “The Road to Reparations” today at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. The event was open to the public and was part of the slate of events featured in the 2023 Harlem Week celebration.
Senator James Sanders Jr said, “The impact on economic inequality and economic development by the robbery of slavery, American apartheid (AKA Jim Crow), lynching, redlining, mass incarceration and other evils, make it impossible for African Americans to catch up. If we want America to be American for everyone, justice through reparations must take place. What better place than the Black Mecca (AKA Harlem); what better time than Harlem Week; is there a better intellectual venue than the Schomburg Center to hold such an historic event? I think not. I congratulate all those who participated in making this a successful and inspiring event to advance the goal of achieving reparations and justice for African Americans.”
When signed, it would be the second state in the nation after California to form a reparations commission. This legislation acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery in the City of New York and the State of New York.
Senator James Sanders Jr., Chair of the NY State Senate Select Majority Task Force on Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises, and Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, Chair of The New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, hosted the historic Panel Discussion entitled “The Road to Reparations” today at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. The event was open to the public and was part of the slate of events featured in the 2023 Harlem Week celebration.
Senator James Sanders Jr said, “The impact on economic inequality and economic development by the robbery of slavery, American apartheid (AKA Jim Crow), lynching, redlining, mass incarceration and other evils, make it impossible for African Americans to catch up. If we want America to be American for everyone, justice through reparations must take place. What better place than the Black Mecca (AKA Harlem); what better time than Harlem Week; is there a better intellectual venue than the Schomburg Center to hold such an historic event? I think not. I congratulate all those who participated in making this a successful and inspiring event to advance the goal of achieving reparations and justice for African Americans.”
