Order for a hearing regarding reparations and their impact on the civil rights of Black Bostonians.
Docket number 0734 councilor councilors Mejia and Balk offer the following order for a hearing regarding reparations and their impact on the civil rights of black Bostonians. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The chair now recognizes Chair Julian me here, who is the chair of the Committee on Civil Rights. Consider my hand. The floor is yours. Thank you, Mr. President. Yesterday, the Committee on Civil Rights held a hearing on docket 0734 order for a hearing regarding reparations and their impact on civil rights on black Bostonians. It was a marathon hearing spanning over three and a half hours. We were joined by we were joined by several council colleagues, including Councilor Bach, the co-sponsor of this hearing. In addition to counsel readings, Slim Flaherty Campbell and Representative Brandy Fluker, Oakley also joined us. We structured the hearing into several different panels, starting with an African Libation by Dr. Ben Mer and Atlantic knowledge from Jean-Luc Pigott. Our first panel, consisting of Dr. Ben Damir and Dr. Jamari, come on to discuss the history of slavery and reparations, both not nationwide and in Boston in particular. Our second panel featured a number of amazing advocates, including Imani White. Good night Robinson, Tammy Atai, Tanisha Sullivan, Dr. Attia Martin and Kevin Peterson. The covered subjects range from health and wellness, land in gentrification, education, arts and culture, economic empowerment and more. I want to uplift equal in particular from Armani, who said it's important to recognize that we came here as slaves, we got free and we were able to purchase land. But then that land was taken from us by a city government and used to create a way for business. I wanted to uplift that quote in particular because it drives home that this conversation is not just about slavery. It's about the repeated injustices in policy decisions that have been made specifically to disenfranchize and target black communities. Our third panel consisted of a more this thing summarized and detailed several reparation efforts across the country and across the world, and reminded us that any effort towards reparations reparations here in Boston needs to be guided by a sense of healing and love. We were also grateful to have been joined by the administration who were not only present but listened and learned and moved their schedules around so that they can stay and take part in the conversation. We were joined by Chief Lori Nelson, Chief Salena Barros Miller and Jessica Felipe. During the hearing, several advocates, both on the panel and from those who presented public testimony, voiced their support and urged the council to take up the cause of creating a commission to explore reparations. We will continue to work with advocates to determine the best course of action, implementing a reparations program and process here in the city of Boston. I want to close out by sharing a quote, a quote offered by Dr. Camara. The question is not what needs to be done. The fundamental. Issue is whether we have the political will at this time will be keeping this order in committee. And I also would like to thank Tunisia Sullivan for inspiring us in filing this hearing order and all of the folks who have been doing the work to get us here. Thank you. Thank you, Councilor Maguire. Did the co-sponsor wish to speak on this? I would just. Thank you. Thank you. The co-sponsor echoes the chair's report on that and docket 073 or anything else that we ought to speak on. Docket 0734 Seeing no takers. Docket 0734 shall remain in the Committee on Civil Rights. Madam Clerk, would you now please read docket 0600?