Black Californians caution Newsom about the consequences for Harris after Democrats reject slave reparation legislation.

Vice President Harris' presidential campaign faced opposition from Black activists at the California assembly who threatened a "direct impact" after state Democratic lawmakers delayed two bills that would have authorized slavery reparations.

The California legislature recently passed proposals to return seized land or provide compensation to families whose property was unjustly taken by the government, and to issue an apology for laws and practices that have harmed Black people. However, none of these bills would provide widespread direct payments to African Americans. Despite hours of heated debate and protests on Saturday, state lawmakers did not include two bills – Senate Bills 1403 and 1331 – which would have established a fund and an agency to oversee reparation measures.

"The speaker needs to bring the bills up now, now, now. These are their bills. They have their names on the bills. They’re killing their own bills because they’re scared of the governor. We don’t care. Bring the G-- d--- bills up now, now, now."

"A Black woman from the same group spoke up in a video shared on X, stating that the governor needs to comprehend the global attention on California and its impact on Kamala Harris' presidential campaign. She emphasized the urgency of passing and signing the bills, as they have been waiting for over 400 years."

"We have the votes," the man added.

The bills authored by Sen. Steven Bradford did not progress due to the fear that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom would veto them.

As the Black Caucus, we must honor the descendants of chattel slavery, Black Californians, and Black Americans by pushing this legislation forward, said Bradford, urging his colleagues to reconsider on Saturday afternoon, according to the Associated Press.

"Bradford stated, according to the Sacramento Bee, "We owe it to our ancestors and I believe we disappointed them in a way.""

Assemblymember Lori Wilson, chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, stated on Saturday that the Caucus had withdrawn the bills, indicating that the proposals required further refinement.

From the outset, we were aware that it would be a challenging endeavor, and it would take a long time to achieve our goals, as Wilson stated to reporters.

Although Newsom has not commented on most legislation, he signed a $297.9 billion budget in June that included up to $12 million for reparations legislation. However, the budget did not specify how the funds would be used, and his administration has expressed opposition to certain proposals. Newsom has until September 30 to decide whether to sign the bills that have passed.

Reggie Jones-Sawyer, a Black Democratic Assemblymember, referred to his bill as a "labor of love" to offer an official apology for discrimination. His uncle was part of the "Little Rock Nine," a group of Black students who, in the 1950s, were escorted by federal troops past an angry white mob into Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, three years after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional.

"Jones-Sawyer stated ahead of the vote on the legislation, "I believe my grandparents, who fought in 1957, would be extremely proud of what we are doing today because it is for the progress of our people.""

In 2020, Newsom signed a law establishing a unique task force to examine reparations proposals. Since then, New York and Illinois have enacted similar legislation. The California task force recently released a comprehensive report with over 100 recommendations for policymakers.

Earlier this summer, Newsom signed a law mandating school districts receiving state funding for a career education program to gather data on the academic performance of students based on race and gender. This legislation, which forms part of a reparations package supported by the California Legislative Black Caucus, aims to tackle disparities in student achievement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.