150-22 Resolution - Reparations Task Force Model.pdf

4 freedom, exploitation of their labor, and destruction of their culture, language, religion, and families; I the extensive denial of humanity, sexual abuse, and chattelization of persons; (f) the role of the federal and state governments of the United States in supporting the institution of slavery in constitutional and statutory provisions, including the extent to which the governments prevented, opposed, or restricted efforts of formerly enslaved Africans and their descendants to repatriate to their homeland; (g) the federal and state laws that discriminated against formerly enslaved Africans and their descendants who were deemed United States citizens from 1868 to the present; (h) other forms of systemic racial discrimination in the public and private sectors against enslaved African people and their descendants who were deemed United States citizens from 1868 to the present, including redlining, Jim Crow segregation, restrictive covenants, mass incarceration, voter suppression, educational funding discrepancies, and predatory financial practices; and (i) the lingering negative effects of the institution of slavery and the matters described in this section on living African-Americans and on society in the United States; and, WHEREAS, this resolution endorses that the task force recommend appropriate ways to educate the New Jersey public of the task force’s findings. WHEREAS, we recommend appropriate remedies in consideration of the task force’s findings. In making recommendations, the task force shall address among other issues: (1) how the recommendations comport with international standards of remedy for wrongs and injuries caused by the State, that include full reparations and special measures, as understood by various relevant international protocols, laws, and findings; (2) how the State of New Jersey will offer a formal apology on behalf of the people of New Jersey for the perpetration of gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity on African slaves and their descendants; (3) how New Jersey laws and policies that continue to disproportionately and negatively affect African- Americans as a group and how those that perpetuate the lingering effects, both material and psychosocial, can be eliminated; (4) how the injuries resulting from slavery and its aftermath can be reversed and appropriate policies, programs, projects, and

he lingering effects, both material and psychosocial, can be eliminated; (4) how the injuries resulting from slavery and its aftermath can be reversed and appropriate policies, programs, projects, and recommendations to reverse the injuries; (5) how, in consideration of the task force’s findings, any form of compensation to the descendants of enslaved Africans is calculated; (6) what form of compensation should be awarded, through what instrumentalities, and who should be eligible for such compensation; and (7) how, in consideration of the task force’s findings, any other forms of rehabilitation or restitution to African descendants is warranted and what the form and scope of those measures should take. The “New Jersey Reparations Task Force” shall issue an interim report of its progress to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 12 months following the initial meeting, and shall submit its final report and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature no later than 24 months following the initial meeting. The interim and the final report shall be submitted to the Legislature in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of 15 P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1). The task force shall expire upon issuance of its final report; and, WHEREAS, the “Say the Word: Reparations” campaign, powered by the advocacy of thousands of people across New Jersey, and led by the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and partners, has called on New Jersey to become the second state in history to establish a statewide reparations task force; and,