Deon Jenkins, California Senate candidate, warns of “serious setbacks” in the reparations debate

An activist has warned California’s Task Force on Reparations that there will be “a serious backlash” if they don’t meet his demands for more than $800,000 for black residents.

Deon Jenkins said at the first meeting of the task force to study and develop reparations proposals for African Americans that the money given to black people in California should equal the state’s median price of about $800,000.

Following that appearance at the public hearing at Oakland City Hall on Wednesday, Jenkins, who describes himself as a “hip-hop organizer,” said in an interview, “Either they’re going to go along with it or there’s going to be a serious backlash.”

Since 2021, the first of its kind on the national task force is addressing history and studies to advocate reparations to California descendants of black enslaved people. The group has until July 1 before having to decide on reparations.

Deon Jenkins, pictured here, ran for president in 2016 and 2020, and ran for the United States Senate in California in 2022, receiving fewer than 7,000 votes

Jenkins ran for president in 2016 and 2020, and ran for the United States Senate in California in 2022, receiving fewer than 7,000 votes. On his official website, Jenkins describes himself as a “grassroots hip-hop organizer.”

In his speech to the task force, Jenkins also said, “Defense, money, land, grants. Four elements of every society, every nation – a defense structure, economy, land and access to that economy.’

He continued: “If this is not addressed then reparations will not apply. Reparations – Repair is the root of the word, we cannot have repair if these elements are not addressed.’

In his speech to the task force, Jenkins also said, “Defense, money, land, grants. Four elements of every society, every nation – a defense structure, economy, land and access to that economy.

Also speaking Thursday, Rev. Tony Pierce of the Black Wall Street Project exclaimed when his speaking time was up, “$230,000 isn’t enough!”

Another speaker, Carol Williams, who said she had experienced homelessness since moving to the state from Memphis in 1985, stated her belief that all reparations should be tax-free.

She said: “I consider myself a basic Black American. The indemnity should be tax free so the IRS won’t come after us when we get the money. And I pray and pray that when we make the parentage decision, that we rescue those who have been in California since 2000.’

While another speaker said: “I can’t even walk down the street without being judged. There is nothing I can do in this world without being judged. Why should I… only be judged by the color of my skin?’

Max Fennell and fellow campaigner Jenkins posed after the meeting. Jenkins asked for $800,000 in damages

Former Democratic congressional candidate Morris Griffin holds up a sign during the meeting

At Wednesday’s hearing, 35-year-old entrepreneur and first Black professional triathlete Max Fennell said each person should receive $350,000 in compensation to close the racial wealth gap and Black-owned businesses should receive $250,000 , which would help them flourish.

Fennell added, “It’s a debt owed, we worked for nothing,” he said. “We don’t ask; we’ll tell you.’

He concluded his remarks by saying, “The material values ​​I am asking for are $350,000 per black American in California, that is tangible small business grants, $250,000 and 15 to 20 acres of land.”

Fennell posted a video on Instagram showing him at the hearings with around 60 others, alongside the caption: “Testimony of history with the tribe”.

Task Force Chair Kamilah Moore listens to public comments during the meeting

Demnlus Johnson III, a member of Richmond City Council, said it was remarkable that the issue was even being discussed publicly.

“You have to identify a problem in order to address it,” he said. “Obviously we want it to be addressed now, the urgency is now, but it’s quite an achievement to have it all broadcast and online.”

The day before the hearings began, the committee’s chairman slammed reports that the group would propose that $225,000 be given to anyone who applies to the program.

In a series of interviews on Dec. 13, Kamilah V. Moore said the figure, presented to the committee by an economic research team, represents the state of California’s “maximum guilt” for housing discrimination.

It applies only to people affected by housing discrimination between 1933 and 1977, and not just to blacks.

Entrepreneur and professional triathlete Max Fennell spoke at the debate, saying, “It’s a debt owed, we worked for nothing,” he said. “We don’t ask; we’ll tell you.’

Moore said: “In reality, that number would be minimized if you consider the fact that the task force decided in March that the eligibility community would be ancestry-based rather than race-based.”

She added, “If you really look at who was really affected by housing discrimination in that particular time period, it most likely won’t be all black people.”

In a separate interview with Spectrum News, Moore pointed to the need for a Bureau of African American Affairs to process the payments, citing the success of the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ records in addressing similar issues for Native Americans.

Moore opened Wednesday’s hearing, saying, “September’s meeting in LA and today’s meeting in Oakland marked a developing phase. Now we’re not really looking for people who can make personal and knowledgeable statements.’

She continued, “It’s important to get this right because we’re setting the precedent for other states and localities and also for the federal government.”

The gathering drew a wispy crowd of activists at Oakland City Hall on Wednesday

Councilor Carroll Fife from Oakland highlighted the problems of homelessness in California.

Fife said: “Homelessness is off the charts in California. And that’s partly because there were populations, particularly black Americans, who were denied access to housing.’

Committee members will make preliminary policy recommendations, such as: B. Audits of government agencies dealing with child welfare and incarceration to reduce inequalities in the treatment of Black people.

The group discussed how the state can address its impact on black families whose property has been confiscated by significant domains. The issue drew renewed attention after lawmakers voted last year to return a beachfront property called Bruce’s Beach to the descendants of the black residents who owned it until it was taken in the 20th century.

Officials from Oakland, Sacramento, Los Angeles and other California cities spoke about local reparation efforts.

They included Khansa T. Jones-Muhammad, deputy chair of the Los Angeles Reparations Advisory Commission, established last year under then-Mayor Eric Garcetti. The commission’s goal is to advise the city on a pilot program to distribute reparations to a group of black residents, but it has no set timeline for completing its work.

In September, economists began listing preliminary estimates of what the state might owe as a result of discriminatory policies. However, they said they need more data to get more complete numbers.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, a former congressman, authored the bill creating the state’s task force, and the group began work last year.

The law was signed into law in September 2020 after a summer of nationwide protests against racism and police brutality following the killing of George Floyd, a black man, by a white Minnesota police officer.

In June, the task force released a 500-page report detailing the discriminatory policies that have fueled residential segregation, criminal justice inequalities and other realities that have hurt black Californians in the decades since slavery was abolished.