Survivors and descendants of families evicted from Section 14 in Palm Springs are seeking millions from the city. Now, they’re assessing the next step in their lawsuit for racial reparations.
Section 14 survivors gathered in Los Angeles to announce a racial reparations claim against Palm Springs, stating it caused up to $2 billion in harm to families who were forcibly evicted in the 1950s and 1960s.
Hundreds of Black and Mexican families plan to file claims Tuesday seeking millions of dollars in restitution from the city of Palm Springs for being forcibly evicted from the downtown Section 14 neighborhood in the 1950s and 1960s.
Section 14 is a square-mile parcel of the reservation that is one block from the heart of Downtown Palm Springs and was home to diverse cultures, races, ethnicities and conflicting political and economic interests. Over time it became a battle ground over matters of tribal sovereignty, segregation and racism.
Lonnie McWilliams Sr. grew up in section 14 near downtown Palm Springs. He says he still remembers the day his family was forced out their home and into Desert Highland Gateway Estates. “They didn’t want us downtown, so they made that and got us all out here,” said Lonnie McWilliams Sr, “They tricked us, hurt […]
