With the Black Lives Matter movement gaining momentum over the summer of 2020, attention towards systematic racism throughout America boomed. During this time, the city of Asheville, NC became the first city in America to approve a reparation project for the local black community. However, more recently this was taken off the agenda by the Asheville City Government.

Signing this petition is signing your support to put a modified version of this reparation proposal back onto the agenda of the Asheville City Government. A modified version would include reparations not just for the local black community, but all local minority communities (including the local black, LGBTQ+, Hispanic, etc. communities). The best way to begin this project, we believe, would be using a phased approach which starts with reparations targeting the local black community and then progressing towards other local minorities.

By reparations, we are discussing not forms of cash deposits, but policy and program development designed to benefit the social and economic growth of these local minorities (as originally attended by the first proposal). This includes, but is not limited to tax breaks, housing programs, local business support, etc.

Please understand that if you do not live in the city of Asheville, this is still an important petition to support as it will provide a model for all communities to use. By assisting in the design, creation, administration, and communication of this proposal, we are as well providing the opportunity for other communities to create similar proposals.

Sign your name on this petition to become a voice behind a reparation project designed to benefit and change the local community of Asheville, NC and provide a model for all communities!