LOS ANGELES — After nearly three years of controversy and intense debate, Manhattan Beach on Saturday held a ceremony of its own to acknowledge its racist history at Bruce’s Beach — and to mark what city leaders are calling a new chapter of healing.
More than 100 residents, city staff and government officials gathered to reflect on the fact that the city once ran an entire community of Black beachgoers out of town. Standing before a new monument that spelled out this historical injustice, Mayor Steve Napolitano asked the crowd to join him in a moment of silence.
kAm“xE 92D 366? 2 =@?8 C@25 — E@@ =@?8 — E@ 86E 96C6[” D2:5 }2A@=:E2?@[ H9@ A6CD@?2==J 2A@=@8:K65 E@ 2== E96 q=24< 72>:=:6D H9@D6 AC@A6CE:6D 925 366? D6:K65 3J E96 4:EJ 2 46?EFCJ 28@ — 2?5 H9@ 42==65 @? E96 C6DE @7 E96 r:EJ r@F?4:= E@ 5@ E96 D2>6] “(6’C6 96C6 E@52J E@ F?G6:= 2 ?6H A=2BF6[ E@ C64@?4:=6 @FC 9:DE@CJ[ 4@?7C@?E D@>6 F?4@>7@CE23=6 ECFE9D[ 2?5 C64@8?:K6 9@H 72C H6’G6 4@>6 — H9:=6 24<?@H=658:?8 9@H 72C H6 DE:== ?665 E@ 8@]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 {@D p?86=6D r@F?EJ =65 E96 F?AC64656?E65 492C86 @? C6EFC?:?8 E96 4@F?EJ\@H?65 A@CE:@?D @7 E96 =2?5 324< E@ E96 qCF46 72>:=J[ E96 =@42= C6DA@?D6 @? H92E E@ 5@ H:E9 E96 C6DE @7 E96 =2?5 — H9:49 925 366? EFC?65 :?E@ 2 A2C< @G6C=@@<:?8 E96 D62 — 92D 366? DF3;64E E@ :>>6?D6 4C:E:4:D>]k^Am
kAm|F49 @7 E96 4:EJ’D 677@CED 92G6 7@4FD65 @? 9@H E@ C6A=246 2 4@>>6>@C2E:G6 A=2BF6 E92E 925 8=@DD65 @G6C 9@H 2?5 H9J E96 =2?5 925 366? E2<6?] r:EJ =6256CD 92G6 2=D@ 565:42E65 Sbd_[___ 7@C 2 4@>>6>@C2E:G6 2CE :?DE2==2E:@? E92E H:== 36 E96 3:886DE 2CE AC@;64E 6G6C 4@>>:DD:@?65 :? |2?92EE2? q6249]k^Am
kAmqFE 56=:36C2E:@?D @G6C H92E E96 ?6H A=2BF6 D9@F=5 D2J 92G6 366? 492C865] rC:E:4D D2J E96 ?6H E6IE DE:== H9:E6H2D96D E96 9:DE@CJ @7 qCF46’D q6249[ 2?5 >2?J BF6DE:@?65 H96E96C 4C62E:?8 2 ?6H >@?F>6?E 24EF2==J 2>@F?ED E@ ;FDE:46]k^Am
kAm“%9:D 766=D =:<6 72C E@@ =:EE=6[ 72C E@@ =2E6[” D2:5 v6@C86 u2E96C66[ 2 AC@>:?6?E C62= 6DE2E6 EC2?D24E:@? =2HJ6C H9@ C6AC6D6?E65 E96 qCF46 72>:=J AC@ 3@?@]k^Am
kAm“(96C6 H2D E96 4:EJ E9C66 J62CD 28@ H96? E96 4@F?EJ DE2CE65 E96 AC@46DD @7 C6EFC?:?8 E96 =2?5 E@ E96 qCF46 72>:=Jn (92E 23@FE E96 AC@A6CEJ E2<6? 7C@> E96 @E96C q=24< 72>:=:6D H9:49 :D DE:== @H?65 3J E96 4:EJ @7 |2?92EE2? q6249n” 96 D2:5] “%9:D 766=D =:<6 2 A6C7@C>2E:G6 86DEFC6 C2E96C E92? 2? 62C?6DE 2EE6>AE 2E C6DE:EFE:@? 2?5 C64@?4:=:2E:@?]”k^Am
kAm%96 9:DE@CJ @7 qCF46’D q6249 C6DFC72465 :? a_a_[ H96? 2 42== 7@C ;FDE:46 AC@>AE65 4:EJ[ 4@F?EJ 2?5 DE2E6 @77:4:2=D E@ E2<6 2 4=@D6C =@@< 2E H92E @44FCC65 E96C6]k^Am
kAmr92C=6D 2?5 (:==2 qCF46 925 >256 E96:C H2J E@ r2=:7@C?:2 :? `h`a[ J62CD 27E6C H9:E6 56G6=@A6CD 4=2:>65 E96 2?46DEC2= 9@>6=2?5D @7 E96 %@?8G2 A6@A=6 2?5 6DE23=:D965 H92E :D <?@H? E@52J 2D |2?92EE2? q6249]k^Am
kAm(:==2 AFC492D65 EH@ =@ED C:89E 3J E96 D2?5 2?5 C2? 2 A@AF=2C =@586 E92E AC@G:565 2 C2C6 H6=4@>6 E@ q=24< 362498@6CD] p 76H >@C6 q=24< 72>:=:6D[ 5C2H? E@ E9:D ?6H ?6:893@C9@@5 E92E 3642>6 <?@H? 2D qCF46’D q6249[ 3@F89E 2?5 3F:=E E96:C @H? 4@EE286D 3J E96 D62]k^Am
kAmqFE H9:E6 ?6:893@CD C6D6?E65 E96 8C@H:?8 A@AF=2C:EJ @7 qCF46’D q6249[ 2?5 E96 zF z=FI z=2? 2?5 =@42= C62= 6DE2E6 286?ED AFCA@CE65=J A=@EE65 E@ 92C2DD E96>] r:EJ @77:4:2=D :? `hac F=E:>2E6=J 4@?56>?65 E96 6?E:C6 ?6:893@C9@@5 2?5 D6:K65 E96 q=24<\@H?65 AC@A6CE:6D[ 2D H6== 2D ad 6>AEJ =@ED @H?65 3J H9:E6 DA64F=2E@CD] %96J D2:5 E96C6 H2D 2? FC86?E ?665 7@C 2 AF3=:4 A2C<]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 AC@A6CE:6D D2E 6>AEJ 7@C 564256D] %96 EH@ qCF46 A2C46=D H6C6 EC2?D76CC65 E@ E96 DE2E6 :? `hcg[ E96? E@ E96 4@F?EJ :? `hhd] %96 @E96C =@ED[ DE:== @H?65 3J E96 4:EJ @7 |2?92EE2? q6249[ H6C6 6G6?EF2==J EFC?65 :?E@ 2 A2C<]k^Am
kAm#646?E 24E:@?D E2<6? 3J E96 4@F?EJ 2?5 4:EJ :? C6DA@?D6 E@ E9:D 9:DE@CJ 92G6 366? 2 E2=6 @7 EH@ C64<@?:?8Di r@F?EJ =6256CD AC@>AE=J D@F89E H2JD E@ C6EFC? E96 4@F?EJ\@H?65 A2C46=D E@ E96 qCF46 72>:=J] W%92E EC2?D24E:@?[ G2=F65 2E Sa_ >:==:@?[ H2D 4@>A=6E65 =2DE DF>>6C :? 2 962CE76=E 46C6>@?J]Xk^Am
kAm%96 C6DA@?D6 7C@> |2?92EE2? q6249 4:EJ =6256CD[ >62?H9:=6[ 92D =65 E@ @?6 4@?EC@G6CDJ 27E6C 2?@E96C] p A2:?DE2<:?8 9:DE@CJ C6A@CE H2D 4@>A=6E65] p? 2A@=@8J 5C27E65] qFE D@>6 6IAC6DD65 4@?46C? E92E 2? 2A@=@8J H@F=5 6IA@D6 E96 4:EJ E@ A@E6?E:2= =2HDF:ED]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 >2?J DE:== E2<6 :DDF6 H:E9 E96 4:EJ C67FD:?8 E@ 7@C>2==J 2A@=@8:K6 E@ E96 qCF46 72>:=J[ E96 >2J@C’D A6CD@?2= 2A@=@8J 5C6H 3:8 4966CD $2EFC52J] %96 ?6H A=2BF6 2=D@ ?@E6D E92E “%96 r:EJ’D 24E:@? 2E E96 E:>6 H2D C24:2==J >@E:G2E65 2?5 HC@?8] %@52J[ E96 r:EJ 24<?@H=6586D 2?5 4@?56>?D E9@D6 A2DE 24E:@?D[ 2?5 6>A2E9:K6D H:E9 E9@D6 H9@D6 AC@A6CEJ H2D D6:K65]”k^Am
kAm%96 D:8? 2=D@ ?2>6D E96 @E96C q=24< 72>:=:6D H9@D6 AC@A6CE:6D 925 366? 4@?56>?65i E96 !C:@=62FD[ E96 y@9?D@?D[ |D] !2EE6CD@? 2?5 |D] $2?56CD]k^Am
kAmp=:D@? #@D6 y6776CD@?[ 2 9:DE@C:2? H9@ 5@4F>6?E65 E96 DE@CJ @7 qCF46’D q6249 :? 96C 3@@< “{:G:?8 E96 r2=:7@C?:2 sC62>i p7C:42? p>6C:42? {6:DFC6 $:E6D 5FC:?8 E96 y:> rC@H tC2[” D2:5 E96 4:EJ’D ?6H >6>@C:2= 5@6D :==FDEC2E6 2 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 E96 9:DE@CJ — :E 2E =62DE 56D4C:36D E96 AC@A6CEJ D6:KFC6D :? 4=62C 56E2:= — 3FE E96C6 2C6 DE:== 2 ?F>36C @7 :?244FC24:6D :? E96 E6IE]k^Am
kAmxE 2=D@ 6C2D6D 2 <6J A2CE @7 E96 DE@CJi qCF46’D q6249 D9@F=5 ?@E 36 C6>6>36C65 @?=J 2D 2 A=246 H:E9 2 A2:?7F= A2DE — :E :D 2=D@ 2 A=246 H96C6 q=24< 6?EC6AC6?6FCD9:A E9C:G65 2?5 H96C6 q=24< ;@J 4@F=5 6I:DE[ y6776CD@? D2:5] qCF46’D q6249 H2D 2=D@ 2 4@>>F?:EJ — 2 4@>>F?:EJ E92E ?665D E@ 36 C6>6>36C65 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J C63F:=E]k^Am
kAmp ?6H >@?F>6?E 5@6D?’E 492?86 E96 724E E92E |2?92EE2? q6249’D A@AF=2E:@? E@52J C6>2:?D =6DD E92? `T q=24<[ D96 D2:5] p >@?F>6?E 5@6D?’E 492?86 E96 724E E92E 2446DD E@ E96 36249 DE:== 766=D F?@3E2:?23=6 E@ >2?J :?=2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D @7 4@=@C]k^Am
kAm“%92E :D 2 =6824J @7 492D:?8 E96 qCF46D 2?5 E96 @E96C 72>:=:6D @FE @7 |2?92EE2? q6249 :? E96 `ha_D[” y6776CD@? D2:5] “(92E :D |2?92EE2? q6249 8@:?8 E@ 5@ E@ C6D@=G6 E92En … (92E :D E96 4:EJ 8@:?8 E@ 5@ E@ 6?4@FC286 >@C6 7@=<D E@ FD6 E96 36249[ E@ 36 23=6 E@ =:G6 :? E96 4@>>F?:EJn”k^Am
kAmz2G@? (2C5[ H9@ DE2CE65 E96 8C2DDC@@ED >@G6>6?E yFDE:46 7@C qCF46’D q6249[ D2:5 E92E :?DE625 @7 DA6?5:?8 Sbd_[___ @? 2? 2CE :?DE2==2E:@?[ E96 4:EJ 4@F=5 92G6 4@?D:56C65 ?6H 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8 A@=:4:6D] %96 4:EJ 4@F=5 92G6 >256 E96 qCF46 72>:=J 766= H6=4@>6 — A6C92AD 6G6? 96=A65 E96> ?2G:82E6 E96 K@?:?8 C6DEC:4E:@?D @? E96:C @462?7C@?E AC@A6CEJ[ C2E96C E92? ;FDE =6EE:?8 :E D:E E96C6 2D 2 AF3=:4\FD6\@?=J A2C46=] W|@G:?8 E@ |2?92EE2? q6249 H2D F?E6?23=6 7@C E96 qCF46D[ H9@ 564:565 =2DE >@?E9 E@ D6== E96 AC@A6CEJ 324< E@ E96 4@F?EJ]Xk^Am
kAm“tG6CJE9:?8 2D :E C6=2E6D E@ 9@FD:?8[ 65F42E:@?[ A@=:4:?8 — 6G6CJE9:?8 E@52J D2JD E9:D :D E96 D2>6 |2?92EE2? q6249 E92E :E H2D `__ J62CD 28@[” D2:5 (2C5[ H9@ :D ?@H 96=A:?8 7:G6 @E96C q=24< 72>:=:6D :? r2=:7@C?:2 H:E9 DE@C:6D D:>:=2C E@ E92E @7 E96 qCF46D] “|2?92EE2? q6249 DE:== 92D 2 563E E@ A2J E@ 2== @7 E96 q=24< 72>:=:6D 7@C465 @FE @7 E92E 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 E@ 2== @7 E96 q=24< A6@A=6 E96J 4@?E:?F6 E@ DJDE6>2E:42==J AC6G6?E 7C@> E2<:?8 FA DA246 :? E92E 4@>>F?:EJ]”k^Am
kAm|:E49 (2C5[ H9@ 925 D@F89E E@ 3C:?8 E96 9:DE@CJ @7 qCF46’D q6249 E@ =:89E :? a__e 27E6C 96 3642>6 E96 4:EJ’D 7:CDE q=24< 6=64E65 @77:4:2=[ D2:5 96 7@F?5 E9:D A2DD286 :? E96 D:8? A2CE:4F=2C=J @776?D:G6i “x? 255:E:@?[ EH6?EJ\7:G6 (9:E6\@H?65 AC@A6CE:6D E92E D2E F?56G6=@A65 2>@?8 E96 q=24<\@H?65 AC@A6CE:6D H6C6 2=D@ 4@?56>?65]”k^Am
kAm“%96 qCF46D H6C6 E2C86E65 :? 2 C24:DE >2??6C 3J @FC 8@G6C?>6?E[ 2?5 3J C24:DE 4:E:K6?D[ 2?5 E@ 6BF2E6 E96> :? 2?J 72D9:@? — 6DA64:2==J @? 2 9:DE@C:42= >2C<6C — H:E9 D@>6@?6 H9@ D:>A=J 925 2 5665[ 2 DA64F=2E:G6 5665[ H9@ =:G65 2== E96 H2J 24C@DD E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D … E92E :D 2 8C@DD >:DC6AC6D6?E2E:@? @7 9:DE@CJ[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE (2C5 W?@ C6=2E:@? E@ z2G@? (2C5X 24<?@H=65865 E92E qCF46’D q6249 92D :? D@>6 H2JD EC2?D46?565 =@42= A@=:E:4D] ':D:E@CD 24C@DD E96 4@F?EJ ?@H 4@>6 E@ E96 A2C< E@ C67=64E 2?5 A2J 9@>286 E@ H92E (2C5 42==D 2 “?2E:@?2= EC62DFC6 7@C q=24< A6@A=6]”k^Am
kAm#6249:?8 6G6? E9:D :?7=64E:@? A@:?E 92D 366? 72C 7C@> 62DJ 7@C |2?92EE2? q6249[ 3FE >2?J :? E@H? 9@A65 $2EFC52J’D 82E96C:?8 >62?E E96 4@>>F?:EJ 925 7:?2==J 7@F?5 2 H2J E@ >@G6 7@CH2C5] p A286 565:42E65 E@ E96 9:DE@CJ @7 qCF46’D q6249 ?@H =:G6D A6C>2?6?E=J @? E96 4:EJ’D H63D:E6[ 2?5 E96 4:EJ :D :? E96 7:?2= H66<D @7 2446AE:?8 AC@A@D2=D 7@C E96 2CE :?DE2==2E:@?[ H9:49 :E D2:5 D9@F=5 “6G@<6 2 D6?D6 @7 A6246[ 962=:?8[ 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ[ 2?5 @776C 2? 65F42E:@?2= @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C G:D:E@CD E@ =62C? 23@FE E96 9:DE@CJ @7 E9:D 2C62]”k^Am
kAm“xE 42?’E DE@A E96C6[” D2:5 $FD2? q2=6D[ 2 =@?8E:>6 C6D:56?E H9@ D2:5 E96 >2J@C’D 2A@=@8J H2D @G6C5F6] “%96 4:EJ ?665D E@ 2=D@ =@@< 2E @E96C 2DA64ED @7 E96 4:EJ’D :?7C2DECF4EFC6 E92E 4@?E:?F6 E@ >2<6 E9:D 2 AC65@>:?2?E=J H9:E6 E@H?]”k^Am
kAm#6G:G:?8 E9:D 9:DE@CJ 92D 2=D@ =65 E@ >62?:?87F= 5:D4@G6C:6D] v:?2 *@F?8[ H9@ =:G6D :? v=6?52=6[ D2:5 D96 5:5 ?@E <?@H 96C 72>:=J 925 2?J 4@??64E:@? E@ qCF46’D q6249 F?E:= a_a`[ H96? D96 D2H E92E 96C 8C62E\8C62E\2F?E[ t=:K236E9 !2EE6CD@?[ H2D @?6 @7 E96 @H?6CD H9@D6 AC@A6CEJ 925 366? D6:K65 3J |2?92EE2? q6249 :? E96 `ha_D]k^Am
kAm“x 76=E =:<6 x ?66565 E@ 36 96C6 E@ DFAA@CE >J 72>:=J[” D2:5 *@F?8[ H9@ 2EE6?565 $2EFC52J’D 46C6>@?J 2?5 2AAC64:2E65 E96 >2J@C’D 2A@=@8J] “%96J H6?E E9C@F89 2 =@E :? E96 ‘a_D 2?5 ;FDE 3J >6 36:?8 96C6 :D 2 H2J E@ 9@?@C E92E]”k^Am
kAm!2EC:4:2 qCF46\r2CE6C[ 2 5:DE2?E C6=2E:G6 H9@ 96=A65 4@??64E >2?J @7 E96 A:646D 7@C r92C=6D 2?5 (:==2 qCF46’D 5:C64E 56D46?52?ED[ D2:5 E92E >6>@C:2=:K:?8 E9:D DA246[ 6G6? :7 E96 E6IE C6>2:?D 7=2H65[ :D DE:== D:8?:7:42?E 27E6C 2=>@DE 2 46?EFCJ @7 9FCE 2?5 :?E6?E:@?2= 6C2DFC6]k^Am
kAm“x 766= 2 D6?D6 @7 AC:56[ <?@H:?8 E92E E9:D q=24< 4@FA=6[ `__ J62CD 28@[ 42>6 E@ r2=:7@C?:2[ 7@==@H65 E96:C 5C62>[ 2?5 H2D DF446DD7F= 2?5 H2D E9C:G:?8[” D96 D2:5] “xE E2<6D >F49 =@?86C E92? :E D9@F=5 … 3FE 9:DE@CJ :D 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ 4@CC64E :ED6=7[ 2?5 x 2> 8=25 E@ D2J E92E x 2> 96C6 E@ H:E?6DD :E]”k^Am
k9C ^m
kAm©a_ab {@D p?86=6D %:>6D] ':D:E 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2E:>6D]4@>Qm=2E:>6D]4@>k^2m] s:DEC:3FE65 3J %C:3F?6 r@?E6?E p86?4J[ {{r]k^Am