San Francisco sued over reparations plan for Black residents

Lawsuit challenges city's proposal to provide $5 million payouts to eligible Black residents.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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The city of San Francisco is facing a lawsuit over its plan to provide reparations to eligible Black residents, including $5 million payouts. The lawsuit, filed by two anonymous plaintiffs, argues the plan is unconstitutional and discriminatory.

Why it matters

The reparations proposal has sparked intense debate, with supporters arguing it's a necessary step to address centuries of systemic racism and inequality, while critics contend it's an overreach of government power that unfairly targets non-Black taxpayers.

The details

Under San Francisco's reparations plan, Black residents who can prove they lived in the city for at least 13 years between 1940 and 1996, are descended from a Black person enslaved in the U.S. before 1865, and meet certain income requirements would be eligible for a $5 million payout. The lawsuit alleges the plan violates the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law.

  • The reparations plan was proposed by San Francisco's African American Reparations Advisory Committee in December 2022.
  • The lawsuit was filed on February 3, 2026.

The players

San Francisco African American Reparations Advisory Committee

The committee tasked with developing a reparations plan for the city of San Francisco.

Two anonymous plaintiffs

Individuals who filed a lawsuit challenging San Francisco's reparations plan.

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What’s next

The lawsuit is expected to be heard in federal court in the coming months, with a judge set to rule on the constitutionality of San Francisco's reparations plan.

The takeaway

The debate over reparations for Black Americans continues to be a divisive and complex issue, with San Francisco's plan now facing legal challenges that could have broader implications for similar efforts across the country.