In Annapolis, Maryland, a rally was held near the governorโs residence on Friday where advocates gathered in support of a bill proposing the formation of a commission to explore potential reparations for slavery within the state. The supporters are urging Governor Wes Moore to approve this legislative act.
Speakers at the event expressed hopeful anticipation, considering that Marylandโs first Black governor would endorse the measure. They emphasized the importance of this legislation ahead of Mooreโs upcoming fourth bill signing event, possibly the final one for the year. State Senator C Anthony Muse, the proponent of the bill, clarified that the legislation merely initiates a study rather than imposing a requirement on anyone to take any particular action.
โIs there ever a wrong moment to investigate something? We need to look into it, and we should start immediately,โ stated Muse, a Democratic representative from the Washington, D.C. suburbs, at the rally. โWe urge the governor to sign the bill in light of the current circumstances in our nation.โ
Governor Moore, currently the sole Black governor in the United States, has repeatedly acknowledged the enduring effects of racial discrimination when addressing the proposal. However, he has yet to commit publicly regarding his final decision on the bill. Moore expressed to reporters that the historical impact of racism in Maryland is genuine and its repercussions are still felt structurally across the state. Nevertheless, he also highlighted the limitations posed by the stateโs financial challenges in an economically strained budget year.
At the rally, Carl Snowden, convenor of the Caucus of African-American Leaders, expressed optimism about the billโs future, stating his belief that Gov. Moore will endorse it. โI believe political advisers are discussing the pros and cons of signing the bill with him, and he is weighing his options carefully,โ Snowden remarked in an interview. โRegardless, Iโm confident this bill will become law, be it through his signature or by default.โ
If Gov. Moore chooses not to sign, the legislation can still become law without his endorsement. As of Friday, the governorโs office had not returned requests for comments on this matter. The bill was greeted with robust support in the Maryland General Assembly, which is predominantly Democrat-controlled. In voting, it received a 101-36 approval in the House and 32-13 in the Senateโsufficient margins to withstand a potential veto.
The bill outlines various possible forms of reparations, including formal apologies, direct monetary compensation, property tax relief, aid in social services, and waivers for different licensing and permit fees, among others. Additionally, it proposes assistance for home down payments, business incentives, childcare, debt cancellation, and waivers for tuition at higher education institutions.
Wanika Fisher, a Prince Georgeโs County Council member and former State House member, highlighted the symbolic significance of a nearby statue of former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, facing the governorโs residence. Marshall, a Baltimore native, was denied admission to the University of Maryland Law School due to his race but eventually became the first Black Supreme Court justice in America.
โThe presence of this commission is critical in addressing the foundational issues of structural racism and historical slavery in Maryland,โ said Fisher, emphasizing the stateโs rich Black heritage and the birthplaces of notable abolitionists like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass.
Significant developments have been seen across other states like California, where last year bold legislative efforts were made to confront historical racial injustices, albeit without offering direct widespread payments to Black people. Instead, measures such as returning expropriated land to families and issuing formal state apologies were taken. Similarly, New York City lawmakers initiated a study on the cityโs historical ties to slavery, exploring potential reparations for those descended from enslaved individuals.