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Los Angeles, CA (February 1, 2024) – Areva Martin, esq., national civil rights attorney and lead counsel for the Palm Springs Section 14 Survivors, issued the following statement today in response to the introduction of a Reparations legislative package from the California Legislative Black Caucus:
“I want to commend the California Legislative Black Caucus for introducing a comprehensive legislative package aimed at confronting the enduring consequences of centuries of slavery and Jim Crow segregation. This is a good start, but we must go further.
“While other states are examining or considering how to reconcile their past with the present, California is taking action. I am especially grateful for Senator Steven Bradford’s sponsorship of legislation that includes the possibility of monetary compensation to individuals who endured racially-motivated government takings, such as the Palm Springs Section 14 Survivors. By finally addressing unjust government takings, Sen. Bradford’s proposed legislation aligns with our quest for restorative justice in Palm Springs, where we are fighting for restitution for the injustices that Section 14 residents endured in the 1950s and 1960s at the hands of Palm Springs city officials.
“However, it is crucial to recognize that true reparations should include cash payments to descendants of slaves. In addition to restitution for those who have had their homes destroyed due to racially-motivated government takings, we will continue to advocate for a multifaceted approach that includes cash payments for African-American Californians who have endured unfair treatment and have suffered the effects of systemic racism for decades.”
About Palm Springs Section 14 Survivors:
Section 14 Survivors is a non-profit group deeply rooted in the history and legacy of Palm Springs, composed of more than 1,000 survivors and descendants of Palm Springs Section 14.
Section 14, a one-square-mile area just east of downtown Palm Springs, was a vibrant community of predominantly African American and Latino residents. From the late 1950s through the 1960s, the City of Palm Springs, seeking commercial development, demolished this thriving community, destroying homes, personal property, and belongings without warning.
This destruction led to significant economic, physical, and emotional trauma for the Section 14 community, which had more than 5,000 residents at its peak. The survivors and descendants, with the support and counsel of leading civil rights attorney Areva Martin, continue to seek justice and restitution. Their mission transcends monetary compensation, it is a quest for acknowledgement of the past, communal healing, and the establishment of restorative measures that ensure such injustices are never repeated.
Learn more and sign the petition to show your support at Section14Survivors.com or KnowBeforeYouGoPalmSprings.com
