Lexington Democratic Club pass Resolution in Support of a Commission to Study Reparations

WHEREAS, the New York State Assembly has passed Assembly Bill 7691 and the New York State Senate has passed the equivalent Senate Bill S1163A for the purpose establishing a commission to consider reparations to address the lingering negative effects of the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality and inhumanity of slavery in the history of the City and State of New York; and

WHEREAS, the enslavement that proliferated in New York constituted an immoral and inhumane deprivation of African Americans’ life, liberty, property, citizenship rights, cultural heritage, and denied them the fruits of their own labor; and

WHEREAS, systematic and pervasive discrimination of African Americans in housing, education, commerce, recreation and healthcare, which still exists today, has resulted in disparate generational poverty; and

WHEREAS, the Lexington Democratic Club supports the establishment of a commission to examine the institution of slavery in New York, discrimination against African Americans, and the economic impact thereof; and to recommend appropriate remedies to the legislature.

Therefore, be it resolved, the Lexington Democratic Club urges Governor Kathy Hochul to sign into law the legislation set forth in A7691 and S1163A establishing a commission to consider reparations for African Americans in NY State.