*Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill (SB) 518, landmark legislation creating California’s Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery — the first state agency in the nation dedicated to implementing reparations for Black Americans.
“A few days ago, I, with a few other members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), met with Gov. Newsom as he signed my bill SB 518 – the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery,” said Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego), chair of the CLBC and author of the bill. “California has taken a monumental and historic step toward justice, becoming the first state in the nation to create a permanent agency dedicated to reparative justice for Black Americans.”
The governor first hinted at the signing during an appearance on the Higher Learning podcast, hosted by Rachel Lindsay and Van Lathan Jr., before his office made the news official in an Oct. 10 press release. “I just signed a bill two days ago with the (California Legislative) Black Caucus as it relates to creating a new office to address these systemic issues,” Newsom told the hosts…