Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) says he will veto a state-approved bill to create a commission to study and recommend reparations for slavery and racial discrimination.
In his veto letter sent Friday, Moore pointed to several commissions the state has already approved, including the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the State Commission to Coordinate the Study, Commemoration, and Impact of the History and Legacy of Slavery in Maryland.
“I will always protect and defend the full history of African Americans in our state and country,” Moore wrote in his letter. “But in light of the many important studies that have taken place on this issue over nearly three decades, now is the time to focus on the work itself: Narrowing the racial wealth gap, expanding homeownership, uplifting entrepreneurs of color, and closing the foundational disparities that lead to inequality — from food insecurity to education.”
Moore, the state’s first Black governor and the nation’s only sitting Black governor, also pointed to the rise of Black politicians in recent years, including Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D), who is Maryland’s first Black female senator, and noted the state has a Black attorney general, Black state House Speaker and Black treasurer.
“We have moved in partnership with leaders across the state to uplift Black families and address racial disparities in our communities,” Moore said. “That is the context in which I’ve made this difficult decision. Because while I appreciate the work that went into this legislation, I strongly believe now is not the time for another study. Now is the time for continued action that delivers results for the people we serve.”
The bill, a top priority of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, detailed a host of potential reparations, including official statements of apology, financial compensation, assistance with making a down payment on a home, debt forgiveness and tuition payment waivers for higher education.
The bill passed last month with a 101-36 vote in the state’s House.
The Legislative Black Caucus condemned Moore’s veto Friday.
“At a time when the White House and Congress are actively targeting Black communities, dismantling diversity initiatives, and using harmful coded language, Governor Moore had a chance to show the country and the world that here in Maryland we boldly and courageously recognize our painful history and the urgent need to address it,” it said in the statement.
“Instead, the State’s first Black governor chose to block this historic legislation that would have moved the state toward directly repairing the harm of enslavement.”
California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York and Illinois have all introduced efforts to pass reparations. Evanston, Ill., was the first city to approve a reparations plan for Black residents, followed by California’s ambitious recommendation for eligible recipients to receive up to $1.2 million each.
No federal legislation has passed yet, though Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) reintroduced H.R. 40, which would create a federal commission to examine the lasting impact of slavery, systemic racism and racial discrimination and explore measures — such as reparations — to address these harms. The legislation was first introduced in 1989.
Meanwhile, Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) on Friday reintroduced the federal Reparations Now resolution, which would offer reparations to descendants of enslaved Africans and people of African descent.
