It is with an extremely heavy heart and a profound sense of loss that we announce the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee. She was a steadfast leader in the fight for reparatory justice, carrying forward the legislative baton from the late Congressman John Conyers in 2018. Her relentless efforts nearly brought HR 40 to passage in the House of Representatives in 2022, missing by just one vote. Her leadership was pivotal in advancing the bill out of the Judiciary Committee in April 2021 after a historic debate.
Even after her diagnosis, she fiercely collaborated with reparations leaders, pushing for President Biden to establish an HR40-like commission by Executive Order. She believed this executive path was crucial for addressing centuries of injustice. Despite setbacks in meetings with the President’s team, she remained optimistic and urged us to stay ready for progress.
On April 25, 2024, the Earn The Black Vote Collaborative, led by Reparations United, released a poll showing significant support for President Biden’s Executive Order for Reparations. The poll projected:
- An Executive Order to create a Reparations Commission could potentially mobilize an additional 150,000 Black voters for President Biden in Michigan in the 2024 general election.
- Similar trends were observed in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where President Biden secured narrow victories in 2020.
Congresswoman Jackson-Lee championed the poll’s findings, emphasizing the critical importance of reparations to African American and progressive communities. Her vision was clear: an Executive Order to create a federal reparations commission could drive transformative Black voter turnout. She wanted this done by Juneteenth. Tragically, just a month after Juneteenth, she has left us. We have lost a great leader for reparatory justice.
We extend our deepest condolences to her family. We mourn together and call on reparations activists, leaders, and legislators globally to stand with us as we honor her legacy. May the Ancestors and the Creator receive her with joy.