Legendary Phila Activist Writes ‘Boss Up’ Letter To Trump!
President-Elect Donald J. Trump
Office of the President-Elect
Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, FL
Subject: Addressing Philadelphia’s Sanctuary City Policies and Upholding the Constitutional Rights of American Freedmen
Dear President-Elect Trump,
Congratulations on your election victory. As you prepare to assume office, the Philadelphia Reparations Coalition for American Freedmen urges you to address the longstanding consequences of Philadelphia’s sanctuary city policies,
which have inflicted severe harm on American Freedmen communities—the direct descendants of emancipated slaves protected under the 13th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
Philadelphia’s sanctuary city status has facilitated economic and social displacement in Freedmen communities by creating unchecked competition for limited resources, housing, and economic opportunities.
This has contributed to systemic violations of the rights guaranteed to American Freedmen through the Reconstruction Amendments, particularly the 13th Amendment, which was designed to eliminate the badges, vestiges, and incidents of slavery.
Restoring Constitutional Integrity
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and mandated Congress to eliminate its lingering effects. However, despite generations of economic contribution and sacrifices by American Freedmen, their communities have been marginalized and excluded from meaningful economic investment and political representation.
Freedmen communities in Philadelphia continue to face:
Economic Marginalization: Home devaluation, lack of business development funds, and exclusion from key infrastructure investments.
Political Disenfranchisement: Limited representation that has failed to translate into economic empowerment or equal protection under the law.
Social and Cultural Erosion: Displacement from historic Freedmen neighborhoods due to policies that prioritize non-citizens and non-Freedmen populations.
Our Policy Recommendations
To fulfill the constitutional promises made by the Republican-led 39th Congress that passed the 13th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1866, we urge your administration to take the following actions:
1. Enforce Immigration Laws in Sanctuary Cities: Include Philadelphia in your forthcoming executive order on mass deportation, ensuring that sanctuary policies no longer harm Freedmen communities through economic and social displacement.
2. Direct Federal Investment: Establish targeted infrastructure projects, housing programs, and business development initiatives exclusively for Freedmen communities to reverse the economic harm caused by decades of neglect.
3. Define and Enforce Freedmen Protections: Issue an executive order directing Congress to define the “badges, vestiges, and incidents of slavery,” enabling full enforcement of Freedmen rights under the 13th Amendment.
4. Implement Freedmen-Specific Protections: Create a federal task force to oversee the economic and social restoration of Freedmen communities, ensuring their constitutional protections are enforced at all levels of government.
Our Commitment to Work Together
The Philadelphia Reparations Coalition for American Freedmen stands ready to work with your administration to ensure that American Freedmen receive the economic justice and constitutional protections they are owed.
The Reconstruction Amendments were not symbolic gestures but binding legal promises that remain unmet.
By taking decisive action, your administration can restore the constitutional integrity envisioned by the Republican Party’s founders and reaffirm the nation’s commitment to law, order, and justice for American Freedmen.
Sincerely,
Ogbonna Hagins
President, Philadelphia Reparations Coalition for American Freedmen
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