Latest news with #Commemoration
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maryland governor vetoes reparations bill
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) says he has vetoed a state-approved bill to create a commission to study and recommend reparations for slavery and racial discrimination. In his veto letter sent Friday, Moore pointed to several commissions the state has already approved, including the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the State Commission to Coordinate the Study, Commemoration, and Impact of the History and Legacy of Slavery in Maryland. 'I will always protect and defend the full history of African Americans in our state and country,' Moore wrote in his letter. 'But in light of the many important studies that have taken place on this issue over nearly three decades, now is the time to focus on the work itself: Narrowing the racial wealth gap, expanding homeownership, uplifting entrepreneurs of color, and closing the foundational disparities that lead to inequality — from food insecurity to education.' Moore, the state's first Black governor and the nation's only sitting Black governor, also pointed to the rise of Black politicians in recent years, including Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D), who is Maryland's first Black female senator, and noted the state has a Black attorney general, Black state House Speaker and Black treasurer. 'We have moved in partnership with leaders across the state to uplift Black families and address racial disparities in our communities,' Moore said. 'That is the context in which I've made this difficult decision. Because while I appreciate the work that went into this legislation, I strongly believe now is not the time for another study. Now is the time for continued action that delivers results for the people we serve.' The bill, a top priority of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, detailed a host of potential reparations, including official statements of apology, financial compensation, assistance with making a down payment on a home, debt forgiveness and tuition payment waivers for higher education. The bill passed last month with a 101-36 vote in the state's House. The Legislative Black Caucus condemned Moore's veto Friday. 'At a time when the White House and Congress are actively targeting Black communities, dismantling diversity initiatives, and using harmful coded language, Governor Moore had a chance to show the country and the world that here in Maryland we boldly and courageously recognize our painful history and the urgent need to address it,' it said in the statement. 'Instead, the State's first Black governor chose to block this historic legislation that would have moved the state toward directly repairing the harm of enslavement.' California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York and Illinois have all introduced efforts to pass reparations. Evanston, Ill., was the first city to approve a reparations plan for Black residents, followed by California's ambitious recommendation for eligible recipients to receive up to $1.2 million each. No federal legislation has passed yet, though Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) reintroduced H.R. 40, which would create a federal commission to examine the lasting impact of slavery, systemic racism and racial discrimination and explore measures — such as reparations — to address these harms. The legislation was first introduced in 1989. Meanwhile, Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) on Thursday reintroduced the federal Reparations Now resolution, which would offer reparations to descendants of enslaved Africans and people of African descent. —Updated at 10:32 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Maryland governor vetoes reparations bill
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) says he will veto a state-approved bill to create a commission to study and recommend reparations for slavery and racial discrimination. In his veto letter sent on Friday, Moore pointed to several commissions the state has already approved, including the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the State Commission to Coordinate the Study, Commemoration, and Impact of the History and Legacy of Slavery in Maryland. 'I will always protect and defend the full history of African Americans in our state and country,' Moore wrote in his letter. 'But in light of the many important studies that have taken place on this issue over nearly three decades, now is the time to focus on the work itself: Narrowing the racial wealth gap, expanding homeownership, uplifting entrepreneurs of color, and closing the foundational disparities that lead to inequality — from food insecurity to education.' Moore, the state's first Black governor and the nation's only sitting Black governor, also pointed to the rise of Black politicians in recent years, including Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D), the state's first Black female senator, and noted the state's Black attorney general, Black state House speaker and Black treasurer. 'We have moved in partnership with leaders across the state to uplift Black families and address racial disparities in our communities,' Moore said. 'That is the context in which I've made this difficult decision. Because while I appreciate the work that went into this legislation, I strongly believe now is not the time for another study. Now is the time for continued action that delivers results for the people we serve.' The bill, a top priority of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, detailed a host of potential reparations, including official statements of apology, financial compensation, assistance with making a down payment on a home, debt forgiveness and tuition payment waivers for higher education. The bill passed last month with a 101-36 vote in the state's House. Maryland's Legislative Black Caucus on Friday condemned Moore's veto. 'At a time when the White House and Congress are actively targeting Black communities, dismantling diversity initiatives, and using harmful coded language, Governor Moore had a chance to show the country and the world that here in Maryland we boldly and courageously recognize our painful history and the urgent need to address it,' the caucus said in the statement. 'Instead, the State's first Black governor chose to block this historic legislation that would have moved the state toward directly repairing the harm of enslavement.' California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York and Illinois have all introduced efforts to pass reparations. Evanston, Ill., was the first city to approve a reparations plan for Black residents, followed by California's ambitious recommendation for eligible recipients to receive up to $1.2 million each. No federal legislation has passed yet, though Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) reintroduced H.R. 40, which would create a federal commission to examine the lasting impact of slavery, systemic racism and racial discrimination and explore measures — such as reparations — to address these harms. The legislation was first introduced in 1989. Meanwhile, Rep. Summer Lee (D-Penn.) on Friday reintroduced the federal Reparations Now resolution, which would offer reparations to descendants of enslaved Africans and people of African descent.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
March of the Living in Hungary to remember Holocaust victims
Holocaust victims were commemorated during the March of the Living in the Hungarian capital on Sunday. Participants of the annual March of the Living in downtown Budapest paid tribute to the hundreds of thousands of Hungarian Jews lost their lives at the hands of the Nazis.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vietnam War veterans honored with 50th anniversary pin
ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now) — DC News Now joins the nation in honoring millions of Vietnam War veterans on the 50th anniversary of the end of the war — and National Vietnam War Veterans Day. A national commemoration group is asking for the public's help to recognize these veterans and ensure they receive the gratitude they deserve. The group is looking for Vietnam veterans across the country to receive Vietnam veteran lapel pins as a memento of the Nation's thanks for their service and their sacrifice. 'When I got home, other than my wife and my family, there was nobody there,' said Vietnam veteran William Tines. Army veteran hopes to help others with a new career on the golf course More than 50 years ago, the Vietnam War was surrounded by controversy. The war broke out in 1955 between communist-backed North Vietnam and U.S.-backed South Vietnam. 'We still had this idea that we wanted to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia so we took over the mission,' said United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration Branch Chief Mark Franklin. The U.S. sent hundreds of thousands of troops, but after mounting casualties and widespread protests back home, the U.S. withdrew from the war and Saigon fell to North Vietnam in 1975. 'We just felt kind of like the black sheep of the family when we got out of the Vietnam War,' said Tines. 'It wasn't popular by no means.' It took decades for the U.S. to formally recognize these men and women. Canada updates guidance for residents traveling to United States Now, the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration — enacted by Congress in 2012– seeks to make things right. 'They answered their nation's call,' said United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration Director Major General Ed Chrystal Jr. 'They returned. They expected to be — if not a parade, at least welcomed back, and that didn't happen. The community back then — the state — the country was in turmoil. Could not separate the war from the warrior. Now, what we try to do is right that wrong.' Today, the Commemoration is honoring 7 million Vietnam veterans and 10 million families of all who served with a Vietnam veteran lapel pin. Organizers are urging the entire nation to take a moment to thank a Vietnam veteran. 'At least they're acknowledging what we did, and I appreciate it,' said Tines. Watch DC News Now's Vietnam War 50th anniversary special airing Saturday at 10 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
