Historic Declaration Signed to Protect Verified Freedmen Families

We are proud to announce that the Declaration of Freedmen Family Protection and Jurisdiction Over Child Welfare Matters has been officially signed and notarized under the authority of the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust.

This historic move mirrors the core protections found in the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), but is specifically tailored to Verified Freedmen—those whose families are documented as formerly enslaved in the United States and who have completed verification under the Trust.

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What This Declaration Does:

• Asserts Legal Jurisdiction: The Trust now formally claims authority over child welfare matters involving Verified Freedmen families who have opted in. This includes placement preferences and community advocacy.

• Protects Against Unjust Removal: No Verified Freedmen child may be removed from their family without exhausting all in-home safety and support options. The Trust can intervene through the American Freedmen Legal Fund.

• Establishes Community-Based Placement: If a child must be temporarily placed, the Declaration requires prioritizing:

  
  

  • Verified Freedmen relatives

  • Verified Freedmen households

  • Trust-vetted community members

  
  

• Defends Cultural Rights: The Declaration recognizes that our families are a protected cultural group and must not be disrupted by biased state systems. It even includes a Cannabis Protection Clause to stop discriminatory CPS actions in legalized states.

• Launches Legal Infrastructure: A Child Welfare Advocacy Division will now operate under the Legal Fund, ensuring families can request representation, file Protective Standing claims, and defend their rights.

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Why It Matters:

Too many Freedmen families have suffered from racially biased investigations, wrongful removals, and systemic erasure. This Declaration is a direct response—rooted in trust law, community control, and cultural preservation.

We are no longer waiting for protection. We’ve created it.

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Next Steps:

If you’re a Verified Freedmen parent or guardian, review these documents below:

• Review the full Declaration

• Download and sign the Opt-In Agreement

• Request legal assistance if you’re facing CPS involvement

Send your opt-in agreement here!

This is how we protect our children. This is how we preserve our families.

This is self-governance in action.

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Issued under the authority of the Freedmen Reparations Fund Trust

Primary Trustee: Arthur Watkins Jr.