By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
St. Louis – A resolution that would apologize for Missouri's role in slavery has been approved by a House committee, clearing the way for it to go before the full House.
The main reason the measure is moving forward is because the word "atone" was removed from the text of the resolution. Sponsor T.D. El-Amin of St. Louis said the word "atone" represents a moral obligation.
"Although it was a part of a compromise, what it showed is that there were some who were reluctant to accept the moral obligation of the generations before," El-Amin said.
El-Amin said, though, he is grateful to the committee chair and House Speaker for allowing the apology resolution to go forward.
House Rules Committee Chairman Shannon Cooper says there was concern that the original wording might have opened the door for reparations.