Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
Voters in the city of Greenbelt will be asked in the 2021 city election whether they want to create a 21 member commission to review, discuss and make recommendations about local reparations for black and Native American residents. The Greenbelt City Council cast a 5-1 vote at a meeting Monday to put the question on the ballot.
The ballot question comes as reparations are being discussed around the U.S. A task force formed to study reparations in California held its first meeting in June. In July, the Detroit City Council passed a similar measure. In April, the House Judiciary Committee voted to send a bill to the full House that would set up a commission to examine slavery and discrimination in the U.S.
“It is letting our residents weigh in on this issue. It’s not gonna be just the council,” said council member Judith Davis who voted in favor of it.
David said she wants to hear what residents have to say.
Council member Silke Pope cast the sole dissenting vote. She said this should be a federal issue, not a city one.
“For our 23,000 people in the city of Greenbelt, I think it’s too much to take on to do all the necessary research that needs to be done,” Pope said.
Greenbelt’s election is Nov. 2, 2021.
Copyright 2021 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: city of Greenbelt)
