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Senate Apologizes for Slavery

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 18, 2009 1:45 PM CDT

(Newser) – The Senate today apologized for slavery and civil rights abuses against African-Americans, CNN reports. The unanimous gesture—it comes on the eve of Juneteenth, which marks the end of the Civil War—carries a disclaimer that it's not meant to authorize reparations, notes the Chicago Tribune. The House will vote on its own measure, but because it's a non-binding resolution, it won't require the signature of the nation's first black president.

"In the nearly 150 years since the Emancipation Proclamation, America has taken serious and sincere steps to heal the deep wounds of one of history's greatest crimes against humanity,'' said Harry Reid. "This resolution is another one of those steps.''

Slave quarters at the Hampton Mansion in Towson, MD.
Slave quarters at the Hampton Mansion in Towson, MD.   (AP Photo)
Abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass.
Abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass.   (AP Photo/File)
A Ku Klux Klan outfit.
A Ku Klux Klan outfit.   (AP Photo)
Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King leading freedom marchers in Montgomery, Ala. in 1965.
Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King leading freedom marchers in Montgomery, Ala. in 1965.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 37 comments
yummines
Oct 8, 2009 12:01 PM CDT
sorry, ANCESTORS to slaves
yummines
Oct 8, 2009 12:01 PM CDT
instead of giving money to people who were slaves, just give them equal treatment. the people today are the ancestors of the perpetrators, not the actual people so they do not owe them any debt. as long as everyone is treated equally, then all should be forgiven. Also instead of money, why not just punish violation of human rights? it should be left at that
Mr.C
Jun 19, 2009 12:20 PM CDT
150 years from now we will apologies to Africa for not lifting a finger for Darfur, Southern Sudan, Congo, or Rwanda.

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