U.S. Cities Considering Using COVID Relief Money for Slavery Reparations

There are a growing number of American municipalities that are interested in creating reparations programs for Black residents. Some of these are even considering using COVID-19 relief funds To pay for the initiative.

Critics say that using ARP funds to finance social justice initiatives is a misused federal taxpayer money, while proponents argue that the use pandemic money can be used to reduce inequality in housing and to narrow the wealth gap.

After leading a protest at City Hall, Robert Turner, Vernon AME Church pastor, holds a sign. He was returning to his church in Greenwood, Tulsa on November 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. Two of these are proposing to use ARP funds for their payment.

Providence, Rhode Island has already $10 million was earmarked for pandemic relief The creation of the Providence Municipal Reparations Commission in order to address “racial equity.” As reparations are usually defined, the commission did not recommend cash payments to residents of color affected by slavery. It said that reparations are any measure to end slavery. “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., the commissioner who co-sponsors the proposal, has defended the use ARP funds for this program. FOX Business received a statement from him. “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,” Addition: “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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