The Chapter - American Freedmen Commission PASSED TO A SECOND READING IN COUNCIL NOVEMBER 20, 2023

1. “Cambridge Residents” shall mean: persons who have established residency in the City of Cambridge, legal or otherwise, including immigrants, citizens and people who were born and or raised in whole or in part in Cambridge.

2. "Transitional Justice" shall mean: Adequate, effective and prompt reparations to redress gross or serious violations of international human rights law, including but not limited to enslavement, genocide, racism, land theft, denial of healthcare, denial of housing, denial of economic opportunity, mass incarceration and other historical, systemic and ongoing injustices perpetrated by the State against Cambridge Residents.

3. “Chattel Slavery” shall mean: the practice of enslaving and owning people as property, including their descendants, starting in the 14th century, and ending in the 19th century.

4. “American Freedmen” shall mean: persons who were freed from Chattel Slavery in the United States, and their descendants.

2.131.020 - Establishment and Purpose

A. There shall be a Cambridge American Freedmen Commission consisting of no less than five and no more than fifteen members, at least 85% of them identifying as American Freedmen. B. The Commission shall be considered a department of the City, with all the rights and responsibilities thereof. The Executive Director of the Commission shall be considered the Department Head.

C. Commissioners shall be paid a stipend.

D. The Cambridge American Freedmen Commission shall work with the City Manager and/or their assistants, including the Chief of Equity and Inclusion, and other Departments to implement Transitional Justice for Cambridge Resident American Freedmen. The Commission will investigate and report on the historical, systemic and ongoing harms done to American Freedmen by the State (Federal, Massachusetts and Cambridge governments), and identify adequate, effective and prompt reparations.

E. The City Manager, through the Office of Equity and Inclusion, shall have the power to issue additional regulations to facilitate and further the work of the Commission.

Passed to a second reading at the City Council meeting held on November 20, 2023 and on or after December 4, 2023 the question comes on passage to be ordained.

Attest:- Diane P. LeBlanc

City Clerk