After 18 months of gathering testimonies from Black residents of St. Louis regarding historical racial injustices and hearing from experts on the history of slavery and discrimination, the St. Louis Reparations Commission held its final meeting on Monday night to present a draft of its harm report.
The eight-member volunteer commission emphasized that the draft required extensive effort to complete but acknowledged the importance of community feedback to ensure the final report accurately reflects the needs and requests of Black St. Louisans for reparative justice.
The draft encompasses an overview of the commission’s activities and offers recommendations for recognition and redistribution. Key issues addressed include public health, the built environment, state violence and legal reform, housing and land, education, economic justice and wealth creation, and criminal justice and policing. The report also outlines potential city sources for restitution and eligibility requirements for repayment.
