The United Nations General Assembly has voted to recognise the enslavement of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity”, a move advocates hope will pave the way for healing and justice.

The resolution - proposed by Ghana - called for this designation, while also urging UN member states to consider apologising for the slave trade and contributing to a reparations fund. It does not mention a specific amount of money.

The proposal was adopted with 123 votes in favour and three against - the United States, Israel and Argentina.

Countries like the UK have long rejected calls to pay reparations, saying today’s institutions cannot be held responsible for past wrongs.

  • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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    6 hours ago

    rome wasn’t even physically capable of enslaving that many people as the african slave trade did.

      • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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        6 hours ago

        “they did it so we can too” is not the flex you think it is.

        • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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          5 hours ago

          That’s not what I was saying, and you damn well know it. I mentioned Rome, and you seized on that to make an illegitimate point, which I countered that Rome wasn’t the only civilization participating in slavery, and you took that as an opportunity to accuse me of being soft on slavery, which is really, really stupid.

          Highly disengenuous.

          • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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            5 hours ago

            that’s exactly the point you are making though.

            “we can’t help africa because the romans did it too! and then everyone will want restitution!”

            • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
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              17 minutes ago

              if I believed that, I would say that, but I don’t believe that, and I didn’t say that. I will not engage with a liar who places their own words in quotes, and attributes them to me.

              Done with you.

              • ☂️-@lemmy.ml
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                8 minutes ago

                no, just some of the infamous whataboutism.

                no other empire has ever enslaved as much, or is still rich off of slavery. no “b-but rome”