The Big Payback People's Assembly: Restitution Session with Mass Liberation Project

"Restitution is about restoring us to our former state." In this powerful and deeply personal breakout session from the People’s Movement Assembly, Alonzo Wahid (Equity and Transformation) and Brandon (Mass Liberation Network) explore the third pillar of reparations: Restitution. While political discussions often focus on financial compensation, this session dives into the internal work required to reclaim our bodies, our culture, and our safety from systems designed to "disembody" us. Brandon introduces the concept of Somatics and Embodiment, explaining that the only way to truly accept—or resist—oppression is through our physical relationship with ourselves. Alonzo shares a moving testimony of surviving trauma on Chicago’s South Side and his journey back to Africa to "bring his ancestors back home," moving from a mindset of survival and lack to one of righteousness and kingdom. The session concludes with a communal "Centering Practice," teaching participants how to embody dignity, connection, and history to prepare for a future where reparations are a reality. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro: Why Restitution is the "Hottest Spot" in the Room 01:30 – Reclaiming Ourselves from the Inside Out 02:45 – Defining Restitution: Land, Resources, and Culture 04:15 – What Systems Can Never Return: Reclaiming Lineage 05:30 – The Power of Embodiment: Aligning Thoughts and Actions 06:50 – How Prisons and Policing Disembody the Black Community 08:10 – Alonzo’s Story: Surviving the Traps of the South Side 10:30 – Bringing the Ancestors Home: A Journey to Africa 12:15 – From Poverty Mindset to Kingdom Consciousness 15:00 – Centering Practice: Creating a "Powerful Body" 22:45 – Length, Width, and Depth: Embodying Dignity and History 30:15 – What are you a commitment to? 34:00 – Community Voices: Commitments to Self and Leadership About the The Big Payback's People Assembly: On May 30, 2026 EAT and other organizers, community leaders, policy experts, and justice-involved individuals convened toward reparations and racial healing in Illinois. The Assembly brings together four core frameworks: Compensation — Economic reparations and guaranteed income pathways Rehabilitation — Community health, reentry, and healing Restitution — Restorative justice and healing services (Restore Fellowship) Guarantee of Non-Repetition — Movement to end permanent punishment (EndPP) Subscribe to the channel for more content like this and support this work! Sign the official petition for Drug War Reparations https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/w...