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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announces reparations task force, blasts 'systemic racism' in Juneteenth speech
[FoxNews] The task force will develop a framework for reparations, seeking improved housing, education, jobs, and criminal justice.The City Council’s Black Caucus will also participate in the task force hearings and recommendations. Alderman Nick Sposato, a critic of Johnson, told Fox Chicago the planned $500,000 to fund the task force could be better spent elsewhere. "It's too divisive, it's going to divide us even more," Sposato said. "I don't know what the fairness about it would be. Maybe the report will say it's unnecessary, but I highly doubt that." Reparations has been a thorny subject as some cities have tried to create a pathway for the descendants of Black slaves to collect compensation for the free labor of their ancestors. During his speech, Johnson said Chicago still bears the scars of "systemic racism and injustices that have been inflicted on our communities." "We've seen them in highways that cut through Black neighborhoods and the industries that, of course, flock to these neighborhoods and often contribute to increased pollution and poor health outcomes," he said. "The disinvestment in our community has been intentional," he added. He also cited the mismanagement by previous mayors and the closing of schools and anti-Black and anti-business policies. Chicago has long been a Democratic stronghold; it last elected a Republican as mayor in 1927, when William H. Thompson served until 1931. Posted by: Skidmark 2024-06-18 |
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