Another state is exploring the idea of providing reparations to descendants of slaves.
On Tuesday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed into law legislation that would establish a commission to explore the idea of reparations.
“In New York, we like to think we’re on the right side of this… Slavery was a product of the South, the Confederacy,” Hochul declared. “We’re proud of the legacy of incredible warriors for justice and liberation and the thousands of New York soldiers who went to fight these battles on the right side of history in the Civil War.”
However, she said, “What is hard to embrace is the fact that our state also flourished from that slavery.”
Watch the video below:
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) ahead of signing legislation creating a board to study reparations for residents of African descent:
— The Recount (@therecount) December 19, 2023
“In New York, we like to think we're on the right side of this … What is hard to embrace is the fact that our state also flourished from that slavery.” pic.twitter.com/fNFVE34si9
“Here in New York, there was a slave market where people bought and sold other human beings with callous disregard,” Hochul noted.
She added, “It happened right on Wall Street for more than a century. And even though it officially closed when slavery was abolished in New York in 1827, our state still remained a dominant player in the illegal slave trade. The practice continued, and our financial and business institutions prospered.”
Fox News explained the commission will be tasked with looking at slavery’s impact on Black people in New York and offering suggestions for how to remedy negative effects.
It will be made up of nine members.
Three will be picked by the governor, three will be picked by the state Senate majority leader, and another three will be picked by the Assembly speaker.
New York is the second state in the country to create a commission to explore the topic.
In 2020, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed legislation to create a task force to explore the issue.