California voters have ended a ballot measure that would have banned the use of forced labor as punishment for crime in the state.

The measure, known as Proposition 6, would have amended the state constitution to prohibit forced labor under all circumstances. The state constitution currently provides an exception to the prohibition of forced labor in the event of punishment for crimes.

The measure was part of a broader movement among California’s far-left Democrats who want the state to atone for past racism against black residents. The activists had failed to move things forward repair bills in September.

A representative for Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., who supported the measure, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

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Members of the Coalition for a Fair and Fair California protest and call on lawmakers to vote on two reparations bills in the rotunda on the last day of the legislative year, Saturday, August 31, 2024, in Sacramento, California. (AP Photo/Tran Nguyen)

Democratic Assemblymember Lori Wilson, who helped promote the ballot measure, addressed the failure in a statement.

“While it is disappointing that our measure to remove slavery from the California Constitution was not approved by voters, this setback does not end the fight,” Wilson wrote in a statement. “Together, we will continue to work to ensure that our state’s constitution reflects the values ​​of equality and liberty that all Californians deserve.”

Rep. Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California, supported Proposition 6. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The failure of this measure comes a few months after the failure of two bills related to reparations for the descendants of black American slaves. California Legislature early September.

Written by Democratic Senator Steven Bradford of Inglewood, Senate Bill 1331 would have created a new state fund for reparations, while Senate Bill 1403 would have created a state agency to oversee those efforts and determine who would be eligible.

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The measures were seen as key parts of some lawmakers’ ambitious efforts to pass legislation to atone for what they saw as a legacy of racist policies that have led to disparities for blacks, from housing to education to health.

Reparations bills failed in the California legislature amid concerns that Gov. Gavin Newsom would veto the legislation. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Bradford said the bills did not move forward for fear that Gov. Gavin Newsom would veto them.

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“We are at the finish line and we, as the Black Caucus, owe it to the descendants of slavery, to Black Californians and to Black Americans, to move this legislation forward,” Bradford said, urging his colleagues to reconsider their decision Saturday afternoon. .