This city led the way on reparations for Black people. Trump is trying to stop it

Evanston, Illinois launched a reparations program in 2019 funded by a tax on recreational cannabis sales, with revenue designated for Black residents harmed by discriminatory housing policies. The program has distributed housing grants to eligible Black households since 2021. The Justice Department filed a legal challenge to the program in 2025, arguing it violates fair housing laws. Other cities including Chicago and San Francisco have begun studying or developing reparations programs.

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