JUNETEENTH: Justice for Bruce’s Beach founder to take effort nationally
by Elka Worner Since starting her restorative justice work last year, community activist Kavon Ward has fielded calls from Black families from around the country who want to recover their stolen land. The founder of Justice for Bruce’s Beach has been instrumental in efforts to return a Manhattan Beach, beachfront property, now occupied by a Los Angeles County Lifeguard training center, to the descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce. The land was taken by eminent domain from the Black resort owners in the 1920s. “I think this is going to grow into a bigger movement,” Ward said. “It’s going to set a precedent.” Ward’s online petition and education campaign has garnered both national and international media attention. Her goal, she said, has always been to right a past wrong. “Black people owned here and were pushed out,” she said. “It wasn’t right.” Ward is hopeful that State Senate Bill 796, authored by Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), which lifts restrictions on returning the County-owned land, will be signed into law by the end of the summer. The Senate unanimously approved the bill on June 2, and it now moves on to the Assembly. The Harlem-raised Ward said she knew nothing about…
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