| Statement made by Green Party
Congressional Candidate Charlie Pillsbury at
Reparations Rally on June 19, 2002, at New Haven City
Hall.
Across the street on the New Haven Green, we see
New Haven's wonderful International Festival of Arts
and Ideas. I am here today to talk about an Idea whose
time has come: Reparations. I am also here to speak
out about this Idea, because Reparations is not just
an African-American issue; it is an issue of justice
for all Americans of whatever race or ethnicity.
So, why are we speaking out today? Today is
Juneteenth.
What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth or June 19, 1865, is
considered the date when the last slaves in the United
States of America were freed. Although the rumors of
freedom were widespread prior to this, actual
emancipation did not come until General Gordon Granger
rode into Galveston, Texas and issued General Order
No. 3, on June 19, more than two and a half years
after President Abraham Lincoln had signed the
Emancipation Proclamation and several months after the
Civil War had ended.
Recently, syndicated columnist Julianne Malveaux
wrote a column entitled “Juneteenth reflects delayed
justice.” USA TODAY, June 14, 2002, 23A. In the case
of Juneteenth, she notes that justice delayed was not
justice denied; the principle of “better late than
never” applies. She goes on to say that the same
principle of “better late than never” drives the
contemporary Reparations Movement of which we here
assembled are an important part.
Ms. Malveaux reminds us that, in 1867, Rep.
Thaddeus Stevens, R.-Pa., proposed legislation that
would have compensated free male slaves with 40 acres
of land and $100. The legislation didn’t pass. Nor
has legislation first proposed in 1989 by Rep. John
Conyers, D.-Mich., to study the effects of
theinstitution of slavery on contemporary life.
I support Rep. Conyers' legislation; my Republican
and Democratic opponents do not. That is why the Green
Party is part of the New Haven Reparations Coalition.
If it isn't already clear; let me make it clear. The
Green Party stands for justice; the Republican and
Democratic parties do not. That is why our incumbent
Democratic Congresswoman will not even meet with
representatives of the New Haven Reparations
Coalition.
Again quoting Ms. Malveaux: “Some say it does not
make sense to stir up the embers of the past with
analyses of an institution that was eliminated almost
140 years ago. I say that the Conyers legislation,
which would simply study the effects of slavery, is
much like the Juneteenth holiday….It’s better late
than never to know what slavery cost us, and better
late than never to compensate the descendants of
slaves for the ways that institution has shaped their
lives. Justice delayed is not justice denied.”
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