Dallas County, Texas unanimously voted in favor of “monetary and substantial reparations” for African-Americans’ suffering, after the County Commission approved a resolution proposed by John Wiley Price, their only Black commissioner. But it seems they had no clue what they were actually doing.
Price’s Juneteenth Resolution also included a long list of injustices endured by blacks, from enslavement to Jim Crow laws to predatory lending practices.
In its final paragraph, it declared that the suffering of African-Americans should be “satisfied with monetary and substantial reparations.”
Price read the entire resolution aloud at the meeting, but the commissioners must not have been listening with a critical ear. Without any discussion or protest, Price’s resolution was approved by voice vote.
About an hour after the vote, the other commissioners complained that they hadn’t received copies of the resolution before they voted, claiming it wasn’t part of their meeting packet. However, no one changed their vote.
“I am leaving my vote the way it is,” County Judge Clay Jenkins said. “This is the body’s expression of support for unity towards people, a recognition of Juneteenth. I want to encourage staff to make sure that all of the commissioners have the opportunity to actually read what they are voting on before that vote in the future.”
Sadly, the vote is non-binding — no reparations, through payments or other means, will be made, and no tax money will change hands as a result of its passage.
SOURCE: DallasNews | VIDEO SOURCE: News Inc.
