Around New England

Town of Amherst Wants Reparations For Black Residents

December 10, 2020

Reparations for slavery could soon be a real thing in Amherst, Massachusetts.

The town council voted 13-0 for a resolution stating the town “is committed to engaging in a path of remedy for Black Amherst residents who have been injured or harmed by discrimination and racial injustice,” according to the Daily Hampshire Gazette reports.

As for how the town would pay for such reparations, the Hampshire Gazette notes that the city of Evanston, Illinois passed an ordinance enabling the city government to make payments on housing and encourage black entrepreneurship, using tax revenue from marijuana.

The resolution put forth by the town of Amherst does not explicitly say how town officials plan to implement reparations.