Boston takes rare step of apologizing for its role in slavery and its lasting harm
Boston officially says it is sorry for its history in transatlantic slavery and the "death, misery and deprivation" it caused, and pledges to "repair past and present harm done."
BOSTON â Boston has just become the first major city to offer a formal apology for its role in trans-Atlantic slavery.
Coming nearly four centuries after slavery began here, a city council resolution that passed unanimously Wednesday condemns the unique "dastardliness" of slavery, and its legacy of "systemic white supremacy and racism" that's reflected in ongoing racial inequities in housing, education, income and more. The city council offered its "deepest and most sincere apology," and acknowledged "responsibility in [...] the death, misery and deprivation" that slavery caused.
The resolution, which is non-binding, pledges "efforts to repair past and present harm done to Black Americans," to remove "prominent anti-Black symbols"
