A California Assembly member tearfully defends the reparations bill

A Democratic California assemblyman has gained immense popularity after tearfully defending proposed reparations bills. The Republican lawmaker argued that non-white residents mustn’t need to pay for reparations.

The bill, titled SB 1331, followed the recommendations of the state’s reparations task force, behind the

Despite progress on the Assembly Judiciary Committee vote, the potential laws continues to face resistance, particularly from Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez.

Sanchez argued that minorities, particularly Latinos and Asians, make up greater than half of California’s population. Sanchez also identifies as Latino.

She stated that they “have nothing to do with slavery, discrimination, Jim Crow laws” and wouldn’t have to pay reparations. According to economists, the cost of reparations for Black Californians may very well be greater than $800 billion.

“To pay for this, it would take a significant tax increase the likes of which this state has never seen before,” Sanchez explained. “I acknowledge and acknowledge the painful part of our history, (but) people today should not have to pay for the pain of our past.”

However, MP Ash Kalra broke down in tears as he explained the need for reparations, especially in the form of cash. Kalra also made history in 2016 as the first Indian-American woman elected to the California State Legislature.

“I understand that it’s difficult to ask those of us who currently serve in the legislature to make such commitments, but nobody has asked black families for generations whether their property may very well be taken away from them, whether or not they may very well be enslaved, it was nice until…. ” he began to say, and his eyes stuffed with tears.

When he regained his composure, he added, “If only it would be okay to put your children in generations of poverty. For hundreds of years, this country has become a superpower based on the free labor of African descendants. We need to recognize that.”

According to the bill’s writer, state senator Steven Bradford, the bill could expand the scope of compensation in forms aside from monetary payments. Free health care and tuition got here up as potential measures.

This is one in all 4 compensation bills passed by the committee to date.