Breanna Reeves

This story was originally published online at blackvoicenews.com.

As crowds of attendees joined the 2nd Annual State of the Black IE on Saturday in Moreno Valley, several protesters outside could be heard shouting from inside the event, hosted by the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and the California Black Freedom Fund.

According to social media posts made on X by Khansa Jones-Muhammad, also known as Friday Jones, Moreno Valley Sheriffs were called on protesters at the State of the Black IE event. 

“Moreno Sheriffs WERE called this Oct 5th at the State of the Black Union by the @CABlackCaucus while @AsmCoreyJackson was ushered out in a Bentley,” Jones posted on X. “It felt like the @DNC did not want Descendants of Chattel Slavery to exercise our 1st Amendment Rights. #VoteThemOut”

Kamilah Moore, chair of the California Reparations Task Force, posted on X that over 10 sheriff SUV’s were present at the event for a small group of protesters.

“This weekend, over ten sheriff SUVs were called to the CA Legislative Black Caucus and CA Black Freedom Fund (CBFF) event, hosted by Assemblymember Corey Jackson, for less than 10 protestors—deliberately kept small—speaking out against the CLBC blocking reparations bills and attempting to divert funds to the nonprofit CBFF.”

Why such a heavy police response? Protesters  had a designee speak with the police, established rapport, and they left once they realized how silly and wasteful it was—a complete waste of taxpayer money. #ReparationsNow #Accountability,” Moore posted on X, accompanied by video of the heavy police presence.

Demonstrations have been held over the last few weeks following the “State of Black California” event that took place at the California Museum in Sacramento on Sept. 14. These protests are a direct result of the CLBC’s decision to block two bills introduced by Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood). Senate Bill 1331 would have created a fund to financially support policies that addressed the harm caused to descendants of chattel slavery. 

The other bill, Senate Bill 1403, would have established the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency to implement the recommendations of the Reparations Task Force, who published a report totaling more than 1,000 pages that includes a reparations plan.

In a statement released by the Caucus in August, the members explained that they intend to continue working on SB 1403, citing there were concerns and issues with the bill, and plan to reintroduce it next session. Regarding SB 1331, “the CLBC will not be moving it forward this year.” No statement was made about reintroducing this bill next session.

Of the 14 bills introduced in the reparations legislative package, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 10 bills into law, including AB 3089, a formal apology for chattel slavery, but reparations advocates said it’s not enough.

One of the bills vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom was SB 1050, a reparations bill that would have established a process for compensating Black individuals whose property was unfairly seized through eminent domain, such as in the case of Bruce’s Beach.

“I’m disappointed that SB 1050 was vetoed. This only adds to my frustration that SB 1403 and SB 1331 were not allowed to have a vote in the Assembly when we had enough votes and were at the finish line,” Bradford stated in a press release. He noted that the bill had bipartisan support and that it passed the Senate by a vote of 38-0 and the Assembly by 72-0. “This powerful bill would have created a path to restitution for thousands of Californians who had their land or property unfairly taken through eminent domain for racially motivated reasons.”

Moore and reparations advocates from the Coalition For A Just & Equitable California held a press conference at Newsom’s Los Angeles office on Oct. 3, where they acknowledged the formal apology signed by the governor, but noted that “the community remains deeply and rightly dissatisfied,” and continued to call for material reparations.

“As Chair of the California Reparations Task Force, I am deeply dismayed by the actions of Governor Newsom’s administration and the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC),” Moore posted on X on Oct. 3 as the press conference proceeded. “It is essential that SB 1403, SB 1331 and other material reparations bills specifically for descendants be reintroduced and passed into law, as these measures are critical to advancing reparations.”