Advocates Continue Fight for Reparations in California

Here are the morning’s top stories on Friday, June 19, 2026

• On this Juneteenth holiday, we’re taking a closer look at the reparations movement here in California. The state has been at the forefront of efforts to atone for state-inflicted harms from slavery to the present day. But some of that momentum stalled last year after Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a handful of reparations-related bills. 
• California lawmakers included one year of funding in the state budget to keep alive a federal program many small farmers and food banks rely on. The Local Food Purchase Assistance Program helps food banks buy fresh food directly from local and underserved producers. But  the program lost future federal funding earlier this year.

On Juneteenth holiday, fight for reparations continues in California

Nearly three years ago, California’s Reparations Task Force released its final report, a list of proposals to the legislature regarding reparations for African Americans. Since then, some bills have passed and others have been vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Kristin Nimmers, Policy and Campaign Manager for the California Black Power Network, said the fight continues. The Legislature is currently considering the Truth in Disclosure Act (AB 2599). Introduced by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan and co-sponsored by the Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation & Truth, the bill would compel major corporations doing business in California to examine their own history of “ill-gotten gains” so the state can compile and publicly disclose the true story of how corporations profited from slavery.

“This policy is really seeking to improve public awareness and corporate accountability, while really continuing to build trust in the community,” Nimmers said. “We already know that there are various corporations who have already started to research their own history and come out and talk about the ways that their businesses may have benefited from slavery. So there’s really a question about what does that mean for how these corporations operate in the community? What is their role and responsibility in terms of repair and in terms acknowledging this harm?”

Local Food Purchase Assistance program to get state funding in budget proposal

California lawmakers included one year of funding in the state budget proposal to keep alive a federal program many small farmers and food banks rely on.

The legislature approved $15 million for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, which helps food banks buy fresh food directly from local and underserved producers.

That’s only a third of the $45 million advocates requested for the next three years. Jamie Fanous with the Community Alliance with Family Farmers said the state funding provides a temporary solution. “This gives us a year-long bridge. We’ll still have to probably go back next year and ask for another $15 million until we see Farm Bill money that really keeps this going,” she said.

The federal Farm Bill shapes U.S. food and agriculture policy. Fanous said the program has helped small farmers build lasting partnerships with local food banks. Jared Call with the California Association of Food Banks says LFPA has expanded access to fresh, local produce while keeping dollars in local communities. “It was a program that was really just getting started and gaining momentum. And so losing that momentum that is going to really help carry us over the finish line as we fight for this to be reinstated at the federal level is another risk that the state is taking if they choose not to fund it,” Call said.