California’s reparations task force met again on Friday in San Diego with public comment from speakers who urged bold action and for the state to go forward with payments to African Americans as repayment for slavery. After comments by Dr. Shirley Weber, California Secretary of State, one speaker blasted the suggested amount of $223,000 per resident as insufficient.

Reverend Tony Pierce came to the microphone and slammed the idea of limiting the cash payouts to California residents: “There should be no residency requirements for California! We have to encourage our people to come back to California! What better way to encourage our people to come back to California if we have no requirements?”

“How will reparations be paid?” he added. “Immediately!”

After being told that his time is up, Pierce  yelled at the audience, “And $200,000 is not enough! $223,000 is not enough!”

In December, one attendee at the task force meeting called for $350,000 per eligible individual.

California resident and Civil Justice Association of California member Marcus Champion called for “direct cash payments, tax-exempt status, free college education, grants for homeownership, business grants, access to low to no business funding and capital.” He called for the creation of The Office of American Freedmen Affairs to handle eligibility on reparations.

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California Secretary of State Weber opened the comment period to the public by imploring action on reparations.

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