Editor's Note:This resolution has been long overdue. Generally, I worry when politics is focused on symbolic issues like this, but slavery was a historical error in US history.
The Senate unanimously passed a resolution that apologized for slavery, making way for a joint senate and congressional resolution. It is the latest attempt by the federal government to take responsibility for 2 1/2 centuries of slavery and is long overdue
"You wonder why we didn't do it 100 years ago," Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), lead sponsor of the resolution, said after unanimous vote. "It is important to have a collective response to a collective injustice." The Senate resolution specifies that it cannot be used in reparations cases
The Senate's apology follows a similar apology passed last year by the House. One key difference is that the Senate version explicitly deals with the long-standing issue of whether the descendants of slaves are entitled to reparations. The House is expected to resolve its resolution with the Senate version.
Harkin called the vote an "important and significant milestone." He wanted the resolution passed yesterday to closely coincide with Juneteenth, a holiday first celebrated by former slaves to mark their emancipation by Abraham Lincoln.
See the complete article at:
No comments:
Post a Comment