By Brian Brant
(AMHERST, Mass.) An Amherst, Massachusetts city council voted this week 12-1 in favor of creating a reparations fund for the town's Black residents, according to NBC 10.
The vote on Monday also approved a requirement of a two-thirds vote of the Amherst Town Council to grant any spending.
The Council approved creating the African Heritage Reparations Assembly to develop the reparations plan for the town by Oct. 31, as reported by The Daily Hampshire Gazette.
Only Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke voted against the fund because she said it was too early to establish the fund before forming an assembly.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said establishing the fund means the town can accept contributions to aid in their effort and to decide how to finance the settlements going further.
The committee will also debate designating more than $200,000 in surplus funds to set aside for initial investment.
The Associated Press reports Amherst is one of the hundreds of communities and organizations exploring opportunities to pay reparations to Black residents, including Providence, Rhode Island, Evanston, Illinois and Georgetown University.
Organizers cited the city of Evanston, which became the first American city to pay reparations for its Black residents, as a model for their effort.
Michelle Miller, who cofounded Reparations for Amherst, a local advocacy group that promoted the reparations measure, told the Gazette that it provides justice.
She said on Thursday that she hoped to create a private fund to boost the town's reparations efforts.
“We look forward to supporting the African Heritage Community to implement a robust and sustainable reparative plan,” Miller said.