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A growing number of U.S. municipalities are seeking to establish reparations programs that benefit Black residents. COVID-19 relief funds To pay for the initiative.

Critics claim that funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which are used to fund social justice initiatives, are a misuse federal taxpayer dollars. But proponents defend the use of pandemic cash as a way of reducing disparities in housing and closing the wealth gap.

Robert Turner, Vernon AME Church pastor holds a sign after leading a demonstration from City Hall back towards his church in the Greenwood area of Tulsa (Oklahoma) on Nov. 18, 2020. (Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images/Getty Images

FOX Business identified at most 10 cities, states, and counties who have thought about using some kind of reparations program. At least two of them propose using ARP funds as a means to fund them.

Providence, Rhode Island, already has Contributed $10 million to pandemic relief The creation of the Providence Municipal Reparations Commission in order to address “racial equity.” It did not recommend that cash payments be made to people of color who were affected by slavery. This is how reparations are normally defined. It stated that reparations were any measure that helps to close the gap between slavery and modern times. “present-day racial wealth and equity gaps.” 

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Now, officials in Shelby County, Tennessee — which includes Memphis — will vote Tuesday on whether to spend $5 million in pandemic relief money to study the possibility of a longer-term reparations program.

Kamala Harris, vice president, watches President Biden sign the American Rescue Plan into Law in the Oval Office of Washington, D.C. on March 11, 2021. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Edmund Ford Jr. is co-sponsoring this proposal. He told FOX Business that ARP funds were used to support the program. “the negative impacts of the pandemic include assistance to households and communities while promoting affordable housing, assistance to small businesses and nonprofits.”

Forbes was again reminded by Ford “This is not going to be a process that is issuing checks to Black people in Shelby County,” Adding that the “process of community reparations provides an ecosystem to intentionally track and promote Black wealth while providing access to assets and infrastructure.” 

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Some in Congress argue that using pandemic relief to pay reparations is an abuse of taxpayer funds.

Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida says it is “outrageous” Cities could use pandemic relief funds for payment of reparations programs. (Allison Shelley / Getty Images)

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“There are wide disagreements on this topic,” Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., told FOX Business. “To use pandemic spending on something that Congress did not vote for and approve… for localities to say that they’re going to basically repurpose the funds for this, for me, this is outrageous and should not occur.”

This report was contributed by Jessica Chasmar, Fox News.

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