Race-Based Reparations Spark Legal Uproar

An Illinois city is distributing $25,000 direct cash payments to 44 Black residents through a race-based reparations program now under constitutional challenge, raising serious questions about government overreach and equal protection under the law.

Story Snapshot

Evanston distributes $25,000 cash payments to 44 Black residents in February 2026 through its reparations program
Over $6.35 million has been awarded to 254 individuals based on race since the program’s inception
Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit arguing the race-based eligibility violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause
The program is funded by cannabis sales tax and real estate transfer tax revenue, with no philanthropic donations received in 2026

Taxpayer-Funded Racial Discrimination Under Legal Fire

Evanston’s Reparations Committee announced in February 2026 that 44 qualifying residents will receive $25,000 payments in the coming weeks, bringing total distributions to over $6.35 million awarded to 254 individuals based solely on race. Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton challenged the program’s constitutionality, stating the city “must be stopped before it spends even more money on this clearly discriminatory and unconstitutional reparations program.” The lawsuit argues that limiting eligibility based on race violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause, a fundamental principle conservatives have long defended against government-sponsored racial preferences.

From Housing Grants to Unrestricted Cash Handouts

The program evolved from restricted housing benefits to no-strings-attached direct cash payments in April 2023, when the City Council approved the expansion without opposition. Recipients can now use the $25,000 for groceries, vehicle repairs, mortgage payments, or any other purpose. City Council member Bobby Burns emphasized recipient autonomy, noting recipients “can use it how they see fit.” This shift reflects a troubling trend toward government redistribution of wealth based on race rather than individual need or merit, undermining the principle of equal treatment under the law that conservatives hold sacred.

Funding Constraints and Sustainability Questions

The program pledged to distribute $10 million over 10 years using cannabis sales tax and real estate transfer tax revenue. However, as of January 31, 2026, the fund received no philanthropic donations that year, relying entirely on taxpayer-funded revenue streams. With recent funding of $276,588 from real estate transfer taxes and 44 recipients receiving $1.1 million total, the program faces ongoing resource constraints. City Council member Krissie Harris acknowledged these limitations, stating the city pays “as we have the money.” At current distribution rates, the $10 million pledge would serve approximately 400 residents, a fraction of Evanston’s 12,000-plus Black residents.

Constitutional Concerns and Precedent-Setting Dangers

Evanston established the nation’s first formal municipal reparations program in 2019, targeting Black residents and descendants who lived in the city between 1919 and 1969 during a period of discriminatory zoning laws. While addressing historical injustice is important, creating race-based government programs sets a dangerous precedent that violates constitutional principles of equal protection. The program has received international media attention and serves as a model for other state and local governments exploring similar proposals. For conservatives who value individual liberty and limited government, this expansion of race-based wealth redistribution represents government overreach that treats citizens differently based on skin color rather than equal treatment under the law.