Prince George’s County Council Member Wanika Fisher will participate in a rally to urge Governor Wes Moore to sign into law SB587, a bill establishing the Maryland Reparations Commission.
The Rally for Reparations Commission will take place on Friday, May 9, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Lawyers Mall, 25 Calvert St, Annapolis, MD 21401.
Council Member Fisher is the Chair of the County Council’s General Assembly Committee, which voted to officially support SB587. Last year, the Council adopted a resolution proposed by Council Member Fisher, CR-005-2024, urging the state to establish the commission.
“This bill seeks to address the generational harm caused by slavery and institutional racism in Maryland and represents a landmark step toward justice and equity,” Council Member Fisher said.
The Maryland Reparations Bill calls for the establishment of a commission to study the state’s involvement in slavery and systemic discrimination, and to assess ongoing disparities in housing, healthcare, education, and criminal justice. The commission would be tasked with developing recommendations for reparative actions and equity-centered investments.
"The Maryland NAACP State Conference supported a Commission on Reparations for years,” said Faith Blackburne-Proctor, President of the Maryland NAACP State Conference. “We thank the Maryland General Assembly for passing this critical legislation. It is our hope that this legislation becomes law, and we bring truth to power."
Community members, students, faith leaders, and supporters of justice are expected to attend the rally. Rev. Dr. Robert Turner, with the National African American Reparations Commission, Dayvon Love, the Director of Public Policy for Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, and other community leaders are scheduled to speak.
For more information, or to register, visit: http://bit.ly/mdrcrally.