In a historic move, the California Assembly passed a bill to outlaw caste discrimination, adding caste to the list of categories protected under the state's anti-discrimination laws. Authored by State Senator Aisha Wahab and approved by a near-unanimous vote of 34-1, the bill addresses the issue faced by South Asians, particularly Dalits, in California, including instances of mistreatment at work and discrimination in education.
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Sacramento Observer: New Senate Pro-Tem McGuire Sworn In; Appoints Two Black Lawmakers to Leadership
Three days after Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) was sworn in as the 49th President pro Tempore (Pro Tem) of the California State Senate, he appointed California Legislative Black Caucus members, Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood) and Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Ladera Heights), to leadership positions.
New Senate pro Tem Mike McGuire announced his Senate Democratic Leadership Team and committee membership assignments for the 2024 Legislative year. The Senate Rules Committee will ratify the committee memberships next Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
California state Senator Mike McGuire was working the floor of the Senate chambers Monday afternoon before being sworn in as the Senate’s 49th president pro tempore — the body’s leader and one of the most powerful people in state government.
McGuire succeeds Senator Toni G. Atkins in the position.
Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) on Friday presented the Los Angeles Black Worker Center with a $ 2.5 million check during a press conference at the organization’s South L.A. headquarters. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas allocated the monies through the state’s general funds to support the Black Worker Center’s expansion plans and efforts to advance economic justice for Black workers.
On Thursday morning, state Sen. Steven Bradford sat down alone at a table inside the Capitol in Sacramento.
He fiddled with a stack of papers while waiting for reporters in the room to quiet down and then, with self-assured gravitas, announced a detailed plan for legislation that would provide reparations for Black Californians.
USC kicked off its Black History Month celebrations with the Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs Thursday. Students, faculty and staff gathered at Tommy’s Place in the Tutor Campus Center to socialize, enjoy food and listen to guest speakers.
The California Legislative Black Caucus announced the planned introduction of the 2024 Reparations Priority Bill Package on Jan. 31. With the release of the historic Reparations Task Force Report last summer, the Caucus has announced its first step in what will be a multi-year effort to implement the legislative recommendations in the report.