Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Summer Lee, Rep. Hank Johnson, Lead Congressional Briefing on Advancing Reparative Justice
CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com
Members to Discuss Legislative Solutions for Racial Justice and Reparations at the Capitol Visitors Center
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, May 13, at 12:30 PM (EDT), Senator Cory Booker will host a congressional briefing titled “Why We Can’t Wait: Advancing Reparative Justice in Our Lifetime” in partnership with Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Summer Lee, Rep. Hank Johnson, and other members of Congress. The event will convene national leaders, advocates, and organizers to uplift urgent policy solutions and community-led strategies for racial justice and reparations.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM EST – RSVP HERE
WHERE: U.S. Capitol Visitors Center (SVC) Room 201
First St SE, Washington, DC 20515
WHO:
- Senator Cory Booker (NJ)
- Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-7)
- Representative Summer Lee (PA- 12)
- Representative Hank Johnson (GA- 4)
- Dreisen Heath, Founder, Why We Can’t Wait National Reparations Coalition
- Dr. David J. Johns, CEO & Executive Director, National Black Justice Collective
- Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, Author, Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation (HarperCollins/Amistad 2024), Moderator
- Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, CEO & President, Black Music Action Coalition
WHAT: This congressional briefing will feature remarks from national leaders, legislative updates, and a call to action to support federal reparations and racial equity efforts. Light refreshments will be served.
The briefing is organized in partnership with:
- United by Equity
- National Black Justice Collective
- Black Lives Matter Global Movement Fund
- The National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA)
- Why We Can’t Wait National Reparations Coalition
- The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
- Black Music Action Coalition
- U.S. Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Movement
WHY: The briefing will highlight the urgent need for federal legislative action to address historical and systemic racial injustices.
Key federal legislation includes:
- S.40 / H.R. 40 – Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act (Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Ayanna Pressley)
- Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Commission Act (Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Jasmine Crockett)
- S. 1051 – Historic Greenwood District – Black Wall Street National Monument Establishment Act (Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. James Lankford)
- Reparations Now Resolution (Rep. Summer Lee)
- G.I. (Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren of the Institutionalized Generation) Restoration Act (Sen. Raphael Warnock)
- Restoring Artistic Protection (RAP) Act (Rep. Hank Johnson)
- Tulsa-Greenwood Claims Accountability Act (Rep. Hank Johnson)
- H.J.Res.67 – Original Slavery Remembrance Month Resolution (Rep. Al Green)
In this pivotal moment of national reckoning, the public and policymakers must come together to advance bold solutions rooted in justice and accountability. As racial disparities continue to impact Black communities across every facet of American life—from wealth and health to education and criminal justice—symbolic gestures are no longer sufficient. This briefing sends a powerful message that real, measurable legislative action is needed now.
“The Why We Can’t Wait Coalition represents hundreds of organizations united in the conviction that reparative justice cannot be delayed another generation,” said Dreisen Heath. “From Evanston’s groundbreaking housing program to the actionable outcomes of California’s statewide commission, we’re seeing proof that reparations are achievable at every level of government. Today’s briefing demonstrates the momentum building in Congress, where HR 40 / S 40 has unprecedented support. The time for symbolic gestures has passed—we need to organize around a robust reparative justice agenda and comprehensive federal action that addresses the full scope of historical and ongoing harms to Black communities.”
“Reparative justice isn’t just about addressing past wrongs—it’s about building a future where every Black person can thrive,” said Dr. David J. Johns. “The legislative solutions we’re discussing represent both a moral imperative and a practical necessity. From my work at NBJC to my time in the Obama White House, I’ve seen how systemic inequities compound across generations. We cannot afford to wait another lifetime for justice. The time for bold action is now, and it requires all of us—legislators, advocates, and communities—to move beyond rhetoric to real, measurable change.”
“As the author of ‘Radical Reparations’ and creator of the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag, I’ve witnessed how transformative the conversation around reparative justice has become,” said Dr. Marcus A. Hunter. “This congressional briefing represents a critical inflection point where we move beyond theoretical frameworks to actual legislative solutions. The federal bills we’re discussing today—HR 40, the TRHT Commission, and others—aren’t just policy proposals; they’re pathways to healing the soul of our nation. True reparations must be comprehensive, addressing political, intellectual, legal, economic, spatial, spiritual, and social dimensions of repair.”
MEDIA NOTE: Photos and video will be permitted during the briefing. B-roll available upon request. Media credentials required for access. Please RSVP to jordan@unbendablemedia.com.SOCIAL MEDIA: #ReparativeJustice #WhyWeCantWait #HR40 #S40 #ReparationsNow
Follow: @NBJConthemove @Blklivesmatter @NJ_ISJ @bma_coalition @SenBooker @RepPressley @RepSummerLee @RepHankJohnson