Hold onto your hats, because the federal government is stepping into the local reparations conversation in North Carolina. Just one day after the Asheville-Buncombe Community Reparations Commission presented its recommendations, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has stepped in with a stern warning, threatening a federal investigation if the proposals are adopted.
DOJ Raises Concerns Over Federal Civil Rights Violations
According to a letter obtained by The Asheville Watchdog, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division expressed deep concern that many of the proposed recommendations could violate federal civil rights laws. Specifically, the letter mentions potential violations of the federal Fair Housing Act and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, stated in the letter, ‘My office will be closely monitoring your actions. To the extent these recommendations are formally adopted, you are now on notice that my office stands ready to investigate and enforce violations of federal civil rights laws to the fullest extent possible.’
North Carolina’s Historic Reparations Push
The Asheville-Buncombe Community Reparations Commission’s report marked a significant step, with the city and county passing resolutions to address the lasting harms of systemic racism. This initiative positioned the region as a national leader in the pursuit of reparative justice.
Their recommendations included a range of impactful proposals: establishing a Black wealth-building fund, creating community land trusts, improving access to culturally responsive healthcare, revising school curricula to include Black history, and transforming public safety systems. The plan also called for an ongoing accountability mechanism through a permanent reparations oversight body.
Contrasting Approaches to Compensation
Dwight Mullen, former chair of the Reparations Commission, suggested that the Trump administration’s objections reflect a belief in “reverse racism.” He acknowledged the significant resource disparity, noting that a local government is ill-equipped for a legal battle against the federal government, calling it an “unfair fight.”
This resistance from the DOJ stands in stark contrast to former President Trump’s past comments. In March, he floated the idea of compensation for the January 6th insurrectionists, whom he referred to as “patriots” who were “treated so unfairly.” This has drawn criticism, including from Senator Cory Booker, who has championed legislation for studying reparations for African Americans.
We as a nation have not yet truly acknowledged and grappled with the ways slavery, racism, and white supremacy continue to disadvantage African Americans. Commissioning a study to understand better where our country has fallen short will help lawmakers better address the racial disparities and inequalities that persist today as a result of generational injustices. — Senator Cory Booker
Booker’s sentiment highlights the ongoing struggle for racial justice and the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing historical inequities. The current situation in North Carolina underscores just how far the conversation around reparations still has to go.
What are your thoughts on the DOJ’s intervention in North Carolina’s reparations plan? Do you believe these recommendations could violate federal law, or is this an attempt to block progress? Share your views in the comments below!