> “Indeed, President Trump has done more for Black Americans than any other president…”

That claim collapses immediately.

Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.

Those are structural changes to freedom and citizenship.

That’s the benchmark.
This isn’t close.

Yermin

The U.S. didn’t dispute the horror.
It disputed the liability.

US explanation of vote (key excerpts):

> “The United States does not recognize a legal right to reparations for historical wrongs…”

> “We do not accept… that \[these acts] constitute violations of jus cogens…”

> “The United States also strongly objects… to rank crimes against humanity in any type of hierarchy.”

> “For these reasons, the United States will vote ‘no’ on this resolution.”

UN slavery resolution passes 123–3; US among 3 “no” votes

Actually, the split shows where states stand on reparations language.

The UN General Assembly adopted A/80/L.48:

“Declares the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.”

Politics_And_Law

**UN slavery resolution passes 123–3; US among 3 “no” votes**

Looks like a symbolic UN vote.
Actually, the split shows where states stand on reparations language.

The UN General Assembly adopted A/80/L.48:

> “Declares the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.”

**Vote breakdown:**

* **123 – Yes**
* **3 – No:** United States, Argentina, Israel
* **52 – Abstain** (incl. all EU states, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan)
* **15 – Not voting**

**Mechanism (why the split):**

* The resolution moves beyond recognition → **links to ongoing obligations + reparations frameworks**
* Western states objected to:

  * the term **“gravest crime”** (legal hierarchy implications)
  * language implying **continuing liability / reparations claims**
* Result: **abstain instead of oppose**

**Coalition signal:**

* **Sponsors:** overwhelmingly African bloc + Caribbean + a few allies
* **Non-sponsors / abstainers:** most former colonial + G7 states