Story perspectives

Newsom Vetoes Reparations Bills, Sparks Racial Justice Outcry

10/16/2025

Summary

Story summary

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed reparations bills, including a measure allowing universities to give admissions preference to descendants of enslaved people.
Assemblymember Isaac Bryan says the vetoes undermine the reparations movement and signal lack of commitment to racial justice.
Newsom defended his actions by saying institutions already have the authority to decide such admissions.
Advocates remain frustrated after Newsom signed bill to create a Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery.

History

Historical Context

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, was a landmark law prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This legislation followed decades of civil rights struggles, including the Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968) and earlier acts like the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Recent vetoes by Governor Gavin Newsom highlight ongoing tensions in the reparations movement, reflecting the enduring fight for racial justice.

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Story summary

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed reparations bills, including a measure allowing universities to give admissions preference to descendants of enslaved people.
Assemblymember Isaac Bryan says the vetoes undermine the reparations movement and signal lack of commitment to racial justice.
Newsom defended his actions by saying institutions already have the authority to decide such admissions.
Advocates remain frustrated after Newsom signed bill to create a Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery.

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