REMARKS
Council Member Nantasha Williams speaks on Juneteenth package of bills addressing racial justice
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Council Member Nantasha Williams delivers remarks on a package of bills related to Juneteenth and addressing the legacy of slavery and racial injustice in New York City.
She emphasizes the importance of confronting historical injustices and working towards lasting justice for all communities affected by systemic racism.
- The package includes bills on truth and reconciliation, reparations study, a freedom trail task force, and a marker for New York's first slave market.
- Williams highlights the city's 200-year history of being built on the labor of enslaved Africans and indigenous peoples.
- She thanks the administration, staff, and colleagues for their efforts in bringing these bills forward.
Nantasha Williams
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Thank you so much.
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Majority leader.
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Good afternoon.
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Everyone, I'm filled with a profound sense of pride and purpose.
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And this Juneteenth package of bills, we already passed 2.
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Today, we are passing 4, and we have one more left to go.
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These bills were designed to honor the legacy of those who fought for freedom and continue the crucial work of rectifying historical injustices and empowering affected communities through much needed restitution.
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This momentous legislative effort demonstrates the New York City Council's commitment to addressing systematic racism and working toward lasting justice for all.
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We gather not to just discuss legislation, but to address a shared commitment, a commitment to truth, to justice, and to healing.
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The bills we are here to support are about much more than politics.
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They're about recognizing our history, understanding its deep and lasting impacts, and working together to chart a pathway forward.
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For over 200 years, The city of New York, like so much of this country, was built on the backs of enslaved Africans and indigenous peoples.
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It is an ugly truth, one that for too long, many have been hesitant to confront.
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But today, through the actions of the New York City Council under the leadership of speaker Adrian Adams.
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We are taking steps to confront this history head on.
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4 pieces of legislation, true feeling and reconciliation process, a study of reparations, a freedom chilled task force, and the a marker at the site of New York's 1st slave market.
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Each of these pieces of legislation is a reflection of the values we hold dear justice, equity, and community.
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In my very short time that I have left here, I just wanna thank the administration I'm Linda Tghani, chair and executive director of the commission on racial equity.
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Andrea, Jeff, Jessica, Liam, my staff for their tireless efforts.
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And as we leave here today, I encourage each of you to take the lessons from these bills into your own communities speak the truth, engage in the hard conversations, and remember the that healing is a journey, and it's a journey we are on together.
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Thank you.