A People’s Hearing on making reparations to African American and American Indian Minnesotans will be held Friday, Jan. 4, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., in Room 120 of the Minnesota State Capitol.
The hearing will revisit and rekindle House File 2928/Senate File 3767, a bill introduced last session “acknowledging the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity suffered by certain groups in Minnesota’s history.” The bill would have established a “commission to study and report recommendations to provide appropriate remedies.”
The bill did not get a hearing in the Republican-controlled legislature last session. This People’s Hearing will give participants an opportunity to offer testimony and ideas and to ask questions and give advice for a new legislative proposal. Minnesota’s 2019 legislative session will start the following week, at noon Tuesday, Jan. 8.
The event is being co-hosted by Voices for Racial Justice and retiring state Rep. Karen Clark, who carried the legislation last year.
After the hearing, the community will gather for a light meal starting at 1:30 p.m. at Heritage Tea House, 360 University Ave. W. #103 in St. Paul, a black-woman-owned business one light rail stop away from the Capitol. There, people can have conversations about community-led acts of reparations, connect to resources, and have other opportunities to advance reparations work in Minnesota.
Please RSVP so organizers can plan for food. Email Grant grant@voicesforracialjustice.org) or Eric (avery.eric@gmail.com) if you plan to attend.
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