Sep 20, 2024 Story by: Editor
New York City’s City Council has approved legislation aimed at examining the city’s historical ties to slavery and considering reparations for the descendants of enslaved individuals. If Mayor Eric Adams signs the bill into law, it will initiate a Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation process, overseen by the NYC Commission on Racial Equity (CORE). This process will investigate the lasting effects of over 200 years of legally sanctioned slavery in the city.
Key components of the legislation include Introduction 242-A, which formally establishes CORE to study the city’s involvement in slavery and its enduring impacts, and Introduction 279-A, which tasks CORE with working alongside experts to explore potential reparative actions for slavery and other racial injustices.
Additionally, the package calls for the installation of a commemorative sign at the site of New York City’s first slave market, which was in operation from 1711 to 1762 on Wall Street.
A reparations report is anticipated by 2025, with final recommendations expected by 2027. Source: ICTJ
