October 21, 2002

City of Chicago Reparation Ordinance Gets Support from Mayor Richard M. Daley

Chicago City Council on October 2 passed a first-of-its-kind ordinance requiring companies that seek city business to disclose any profits that they, or their predecessor companies, made from slavery. The Council also passed a resolution urging the Illinois House and Senate to pass a similar legislation.

"I fully support these two measures, and I congratulate the Council for passing them," said Mayor Daley. "It gives me a great sense of citizenship to know that we are leading the nation to find resolve in reparation for those that suffered so that others may benefit."

The ordinance and the resolution would not prevent a company from doing business with the city and state, even if it had once profited from slavery. The public disclosure would provide the first evidence of ill-gotten profits from slavery that may have capitalized and enriched insurers and businesses. The city of Chicago has long recognized and implemented the principles of full and accurate disclosure.

The mayor added, "This action would shine a light on this disgraceful part of our nation's history. It would help demonstrate how much of this nation's wealth was created by slave labor."

The city of Chicago is the first city in the nation to implement this type of ordinance. This ordinance recognizes that many Chicago citizens are descendants of slaves whose ancestors may have been forced to perform labor without appropriate compensation or benefits.

The ordinance received a forty-four to zero vote without opposition. Alderman Dorothy Tillman, of the city's 3rd Ward, who has been the leading advocate on the issue of reparations for slavery, presented the ordinance. The ordinance will go into effect 90 days after the publication of the ordinance on November 6, 2002.