Governor Gavin Newsom visited the Holocaust Museum LA to sign a new law that will help people in California recover art and other personal property stolen during the Holocaust and other times of political persecution. This law, called Assembly Bill (AB) 2867, was written by Assembly member Jesse Gabriel from Encino.
The new law was created after a recent court case allowed a museum in Spain to keep a famous painting that was stolen by the Nazis from the Cassirer family during the Holocaust. AB 2867 says that California law must apply in lawsuits involving stolen art or property, making it easier for people to reclaim what was taken from them during such times of persecution.
Governor Newsom explained that many Holocaust survivors and their families are still fighting to get back valuable and sentimental items that were stolen by the Nazis. He said it’s important to make sure that these items are returned to their rightful owners, and he is proud to support this effort by strengthening California’s laws.
Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who wrote the bill, said that this new law is a win for justice and fairness. He thanked Governor Newsom for his leadership and said that the law will help Holocaust survivors and other victims of persecution reclaim what was stolen from them. He also emphasized that it sends a strong message to those who refuse to return stolen art: California is standing on the side of the victims.
The Cassirer family’s long fight to recover a painting stolen by the Nazis played a big role in inspiring this law. After a court decision allowed the painting to stay in a Spanish museum, the family’s attorney, Sam Dubbin, said that the new law will help stop museums, governments, and collectors from holding onto stolen art by denying the truth about the Holocaust. He called the law a step toward justice and said it will make a real difference for families in California.
David Cassirer, whose family has been trying to recover the stolen painting, was at the signing event. He said that AB 2867 makes it possible for his family and others to finally get back what was stolen from them.
Governor Newsom’s signing of the law also sends a message to museums and governments around the world, especially in Spain, that they should not keep stolen art. By making California law the standard in these cases, the state is standing up for victims of political persecution and making it clear that stolen property should be returned.
Several important people joined Governor Newsom at the bill signing, including Assembly member Gabriel and his family, David Cassirer and his attorney, and representatives from the Holocaust Museum LA. These people worked together to make sure that the new law became a reality, showing how important it is to stand up for the victims of historical wrongs and make sure they get justice.
In signing this new law, Governor Newsom said it’s important for California to right these wrongs and make sure that people who have already suffered so much can get back what is rightfully theirs. He said the law is part of California’s ongoing efforts to support Holocaust survivors and their families.
