On Thursday, September 30, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law allowing ownership of a beachfront property to be transferred to heirs of a couple who built a resort for Black people in the early 1900s but were stripped of the land by local officials.
According to the Associated Press, the law was unamiously approved by state lawmakers in September and was needed to start the complex legal process of transferring ownership.
The property was once known as Bruce's Beach in the city of Manhattan Beach which has been owned by Los Angeles County.
"The journey here was far from easy," said Kavon Ward, who founded Justice for Bruce's Beach after learning of the property's history.
A half-dozen descendants of the couple were present at a ceremony at the property where Gov. Newsom apologized for how the land was taken and signed the bill.
"This can be catalytic," said Newsom. "What we're doing here today can be done and replicated anywhere else."
According to County Supervisor Janice Hahn who led a government push to transfer the land, the heirs would be millionaires now if the property had not been stolen.
"The law was used to steal this property 100 years ago, and the law today will give it back," said Hahn.
You can find more information about the transfer here.