Los Angeles Times

New poll finds California voters resoundingly oppose cash reparations for slavery

Walter Foster, 80, of Los Angeles, raises a sign calling for a focus on financial compensation as the California Reparations Task Force takes public comment in 2022..

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California voters oppose the idea of the state offering cash payments to the descendants of enslaved African Americans by a 2-to-1 margin, according to the results of a new poll that foreshadows the political difficulty ahead next year when state lawmakers begin to consider reparations for slavery.

The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, co-sponsored by The Times, found that 59% of voters oppose cash payments compared with 28% who support the idea. The lack of support for cash reparations was resounding, with more than 4 in 10 voters "strongly" opposed.

"It has a steep uphill climb, at least from the public's point of view," said Mark DiCamillo, director of the IGS

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times5 min read
Climate Change Is Central To Both Pope Francis And California Gov. Newsom. But Do Catholic Voters Care?
ROME — Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's speech on climate change at the Vatican this week gives him an opportunity to align himself and his party with Pope Francis, an influential figure among American Catholics and a leader in the fight against global
Los Angeles Times2 min readCrime & Violence
In Effort To 'Regain Public Trust,' LA County Announces 66 Probation Officers Put On Leave
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Probation Department has announced that 66 officers have been put on administrative leave this year in a series of cases that include allegations of sexual misconduct and the use of excessive force. The announcem
Los Angeles Times4 min read
Doyle McManus: A Lesson From Presidents Biden And Trump — The New Normal Is Nonstop Crises
A poll published by the Economist this month included a finding that was striking yet unsurprising: Almost 7 in 10 Americans believe things in the country have spun out of control. That's a problem for President Joe Biden, who campaigned in 2020 offe

Related Books & Audiobooks