California Governor Gavin Newsom has rejected Assembly Bill 7, which sought to grant admissions preferences to descendants of enslaved individuals at public universities, delivering a blow to reparations advocates while drawing praise from Republicans who argued it contravened state law.
The veto effectively terminates the bill and its proposed changes, amid ongoing debates over systemic inequities in higher education. The decision has sparked renewed discussions about the balance between addressing historical injustices and adhering to existing legal frameworks like Proposition 209.
Newsom stated, “These institutions already have the authority to determine whether to provide admissions preferences like this one, and accordingly, this bill is unnecessary.”
Introduced by Assembly member Isaac Bryan (D), Assembly Bill 7 garnered robust Democratic backing in both legislative chambers but faced immediate legal scrutiny. Bryan asserted, “While the Trump Administration threatens our institutions of higher learning and attacks the foundations of diversity and inclusivity, now is not the time to shy away from the fight to protect students who have descended from legacies of harm and exclusion.”
Analysts pointed out that Proposition 209 bars public universities from offering preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity, or ancestry without explicit authorization. Bryan contended that descendants of enslaved people encounter persistent systemic obstacles in accessing higher education, necessitating targeted interventions.
Chris Lodgson, spokesperson for the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California, remarked, “Let’s be clear — SB 518 is not real Reparations, nor is it a step closer to real Reparations.”
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Source: California Reparations Bill Suffers Final Blow