Manhattan Beach Officially Apologizes For Historic Racism

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — This week's Manhattan Beach City Council meeting saw officials formally apologizing to the families involved in past racially motivated actions by the city to acquire properties in Bruce's Beach in the 1920s.

The city council officially adopted a resolution of apology to acknowledge the city's role in the procurement of the properties from five Black families, including Will and Charles Bruce, George and Ethel Prioleau, Mary Sanders, Elizabeth Patterson and Milton and Anna Johnson.

“The adoption of this resolution is an important step to formally apologize to the Bruces, Pattersons, Prioleaus, Sanders, and Johnsons for the racially motivated eminent domain action committed by the City, as well as the other Black property owners and visitors to the beach who experienced harassment and racial discrimination nearly 100 years ago,” Mayor Richard Montgomery said.

The resolution specifically apologized for the city's role in excluding Black Americans from its beach by using the police department to cause, "terror and intimidation among the Black community." Officials acknowledged that this apology was well overdue, and said it was important for the city to acknowledge and address the past wrongs to work toward a more inclusive future.

Almost one month ago, a plaque commemorating the history of the Black history at Bruce's Beach went up at Bruce's Beach Park. The plaque includes language that condemns the past actions of government officials and white residents who the city said, "intimidated, harassed, and demonstrated discrimination against Black homeowners and visitors."

Near the start of the year, the Bruce family sold the property back to the county for $20 million for many reasons including ease of development of the land.

"This fight has always been about what is best for the Bruce family, and they feel what is best for them is selling this property back to the county for nearly $20 million and finally rebuilding the generational wealth they were denied for nearly a century," Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said. "This is what reparations look like and it is a model that I hope governments across the country will follow."

Manhattan Beach officials said they believe the adoption of the resolution of apology was a moment of unity for the residents who voiced strong support for an apology.

To further the Council's goals of standing up against discrimination, council members and staff used city facilities and funds to support the South Bay Community Coalition Against Hate in October 2022. The Coalition actively works to address hate incidents in an effort to decrease hate crimes in the community and foster a sense of belonging.

“What happened was wrong and the apology was long overdue. We must continue to work towards a more just and equitable community standing up against hate, and this resolution is a meaningful step in that direction," Mayor Montgomery said.