by Bill Essayli at X
I want to be clear about what happened last night in the California Legislature and my views on the issue of reparations.
For years, the Democrat party has been promising to pay direct cash reparations to Americans who have been harmed by slavery. They convinced voters they were serious about this proposal and that they would enact legislation to make it happen.
When the time came to pass the bills, they went into hiding and refused to bring the bills to the floor for a vote. There were hundreds of activists in the Capitol being visibly ignored by the democrats in Sacramento. They weren’t even allowed to enter the public gallery to watch the proceedings. I’ve never seen that happen.
I met with several members of the public there to support the bills. I found them to be sincere, honest, and deeply frustrated Americans. I believed there should be a debate and a recorded vote on the issue. Politicians cannot be allowed to make promises to the people who elect them, and then hide like cowards when it’s time to go on record. At minimum, the People were owed a hearing and opportunity to know where their elected representative stands on the issue.
I have always been clear about my views. I have not been supportive of California taxpayers paying for the wrongs of slave states. (Perhaps slave states and the Democrat party who fought for slavery should be the financially responsible.)
HOWEVER, I do believe we need to have a conversation about making direct investments and important policy changes into communities that have been harmed by past injustices. This is a conversation Republicans are very much open to having.
It’s unconscionable that democrats this year have spent BILLIONS on handouts to illegal immigrants, including giving them free universal healthcare and down payment assistance to buy a new home! These are people who broke our laws and just showed up in our country. If we have billions to give to illegal immigrants, then why don’t we have billions to invest in our own American communities?
In the coming weeks I intend to have meaningful, serious, and productive conversations on this topic. My message to black Americans is do not blindly support any political party or politician simply because of the letter next to their name. Make them earn your vote!
All 80 members of the CA Assembly are up for election this November. That’s your opportunity to make your voices heard.
Continue ReadingI want to be clear about what happened last night in the California Legislature and my views on the issue of reparations.
For years, the Democrat party has been promising to pay direct cash reparations to Americans who have been harmed by slavery. They convinced voters they were…
— Bill Essayli (@billessayli) September 1, 2024