…but activists demand more than $200 million at heated public meeting

  • California’s reparations task force approved recommendations which could give black residents $1.2million each as compensation for slavery and discrimination 
  • But activists believe it is ‘nowhere near enough’ and demanded $200million as some called it a ‘further injustice’ and others called for direct cash payments
  • Previous calculations from economists predicted the reparations could cost around $800billion- more than twice California’s $300 billion annual budget

California’s reparations task force has approved recommendations which could give black residents $1.2million each as compensation for slavery and discrimination.

The nine-member committee voted Saturday to approve proposals on how the state can compensate and apologize for generations of harm caused by discriminatory policies.

A black resident in California who has lived in the state their whole life until the age of 71 could receive more than $1.2million in compensation, if the recommendations are forged into law.

But residents who attended the official meeting in Oakland hit out at the estimated costs of reparations, which some believe it is ‘nowhere near enough,’ demanding $200million direct cash payments to individuals instead.

California became the first state to form a reparations task force in September 2020 following national protests over the death of George Floyd who was killed by a white Minneapolis Police officer.