TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Tampa City Council unanimously passed a resolution creating the racial reconciliation committee after a nearly four-year effort.
8 On Your Side has been following Resolution 568 since its inception in 2020. The resolution was an effort to have the City of Tampa apologize for the injustices African Americans have endured since slavery. It also called for the formation of a committee that would help propose policies that would help eliminate any current racial inequities. While the city formally apologized, the committee was never formed.
After nearly four years, Tampa’s racial reconciliation committee has officially been approved by councilmembers. The renewed effort was spearheaded by Councilman Luis Viera after he was questioned about it during WFLA’s Rooted in Progress Black History Month Special.
“This really got liftoff because I was asked about it on your special and it became more urgent because I said I was for it and would make a motion for it,” said Luis Viera, Tampa City Councilman District 5.
The 13-member committee will address the economic and racial divide within Tampa and help create policy to combat continued disparities. Each councilmember will appoint one person from the community. Six
