A memorial service led by Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network (NAN), called for justice to be served for the Black families disproportionately impacted by the Eaton Fire.
“What we want is fairness and justice and restoration of Altadena,” said Sharpton. “They do not need to be replaced or displaced.”
The inferno that destroyed entire neighborhoods of Altadena last month also claimed 17 lives, including that of Evelyn McClendon, a school bus driver known for her spirituality and dedication to the children.
Standing before packed pews at Pasadena’s First African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Zaire Calvin honored his sister alongside relatives of other Eaton Fire victims, Erliene Kelley and Rodney Nickerson.
“My heart bleeds for these families and all of our community,” said Calvin fighting back tears. “I want my community to be made whole, and I want everybody to have some type of peace at the end of this.”
Eric Nickerson reflected on the loss of his father Rodney Nickerson, who had deep ties to Los Angeles and was part of the NAN.
“My dad and everyone that lost their life, they shall not be forgotten,” said Nickerson. “We’re going to continue to walk together side by side, not in front of each other, but side by side.”
Powered by strong winds, the Eaton Fire was one of the most destructive fires in California’s history, with over 9,400 structures destroyed, including homes, schools, places of worship and businesses, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
“We do not stand as spectators; we stand as participants and victims in the struggle,” said First AME pastor Rev. Larry E. Campbell. “FAME Church alone has 54 families whose homes have been burned to the ground, and another 12 families whose homes are no longer livable. In addition, we have 74 families in the AME family in this area, whose homes have been burned to the ground.”
A recent University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) study found that Black residents of Altadena were disproportionately impacted by the Eaton Fire, with nearly half of Black households in the area either destroyed or critically damaged.
“My civil rights nose started smelling stuff,” said Sharpton. “Something didn’t smell right.”
He criticized President Donald Trump for only visiting the more affluent community of the Pacific Palisades, which was also devastated by fires last month, and not paying the same respect to the multicultural community of Altadena.
“Since the president of the United States didn’t have time to come, I came,” said Sharpton to a roar of applause. “The people in this town deserve as much respect and regard and attention and accountability as anybody anywhere. We stand with those in Palisades and Hollywood Hills, but let everybody stand with us too.”
Authors of the UCLA report noted that more than half of Black homeowners in Altadena are over age 65, and many could face additional issues, such as insufficient insurance and “risks of financial exploitation” as they look to rebuild.
“The vultures are coming!” warned civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing some of the families in a lawsuit against Southern California Edison, alleging a failure in their equipment is responsible for the Eaton Fire.
He put out a call for action, demanding “truth, accountability and justice” for those whose homes were lost or damaged in the Eaton Fire, and pleaded for the community to “stand up together” against the predatory practices of others offering families “pennies on the dollar.”
“We don’t want three-fifths justice. We don’t want half justice for those Black families who lost so much. We want whole justice,” said Crump.
Many of the homes that were lost were passed down through generations.
Trevor Kelley, son of Eaton Fire victim Erliene Kelley, said their family has owned the property for five generations.
“I have two granddaughters that are going to be living in that same house,” declared Kelley. “We’re not going anywhere.”
Insurance companies often tie their coverage to mortgages, so payouts can be based on what the houses were bought for rather than what they are currently worth. When a home has been passed down for generations, families may not be compensated properly for their loss and can get priced out of the neighborhood after a disaster.
“This is our blood, this is our sweat,” said Sharpton, “and even though it was burned to the ground, we will build it back at the value that it deserves.”
Sharpton, noting that February is Black History Month, recognized Owen Brown’s, the abolitionist and son of the notorious anti-slavery activist John Brown, history in Altadena.
“This community was built on the basis of abolitionism,” said Sharpton. “This community has in its very soil, freedom fighters. This community has in its very ground, freedom fighting and emancipation.”
The historically Black enclave was shaped by racially discriminatory housing practices, such as redlining in neighboring cities like Pasadena. In the 1960s, Altadena was one of the few places offering home loans to African Americans in LA.
Before the Eaton Fire, about 80% of African Americans living in Altadena owned their homes – a number that is nearly double the national rate.
UCLA researchers noted that the predominantly Black neighborhoods were closest to the Eaton Fire’s perimeter and would require the most support in recovery.
“We will make sure that we repair Altadena, we will make sure that we restore Altadena, and we will make sure that we build Altadena, and we will build it back better,” said Crump. “We all know that the phoenix rose from the ashes. Altadena will rise from the ashes.”
