NEW YORK (PIX11) — New legislation may push New York City leaders to right the wrongs of the past.
New York City Council members will vote on Thursday on how the city can go about addressing and correcting the impacts of slavery and racial injustice.
The legislation package includes four bills that would acknowledge the impacts of slavery on people of African and indigenous descent in New York City.
The first of the bills, sponsored by Council Member Crystal Hudson, seeks to establish facts about slavery in the five boroughs, acknowledge the affected communities, and recommend changes to prevent continuing injustices.
Another act introduced by Council Member Farah Louis, would require a reparations study and have experts recommend measures to help correct harms on the impacted communities. The study would also propose the eligibility criteria for receiving those reparations.
Two other bills sponsored by Council Member Nantasha Williams and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would consider the creation of freedom trails in New York City and signs to mark the place of the first slave market.