tThe California fire swept from Eton Canyon last month devastated Altadena's neighborhood and insisted on multiple lives, including that of Evelyn McClendon. life.
In the glow of the stained glass windows at Pasadena's first American Church, Calvin honored the memory of her sister along with relatives of other Eton fire victims, Ellien Kelly and Rodney Nickerson.
“My heart bleeds for these families and for all of our communities,” Calvin said.
The strict service underscored the disproportionate impact of Eton Fire on the black community of Altadena, and became a rally of justice and equality led by lawyer Ben Crump and the pastor.
January wildfires in the Los Angeles area, including Palisade Fire and Eton Fire, are the deadliest and most deadly Destructive in California history. But the question Delayed evacuation order It created a sense of negligence among some Altadena residents.
“This is a human issue,” Sharpton said. “We stand with people on the hills of Pallisard and Hollywood, but let's all stand with us too.”
new data The University of California, Los Angeles revealed that almost half of Altadena's black households have been destroyed or severely damaged by the fire.
“We want to make sure that Altadena has the truth, accountability and justice,” Crump said. “We don't want three-fifths of justice. We don't want half the righteousness for a black family that has lost so much. We want full justice.”
The fire from Eton, which was fueled by the strong winds, 9,400 structure It claims 17 lives across Altadena and its neighboring cities, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention.
In the aftermath, report Late evacuation warning It sparked a call for an investigation. Donald Trump has promised to tour and rebuild the Pacific fire-ravaged areas of Pallisard, but it did not exist in Altadena, particularly in its own right.
It's nothing new to feel overlooked, Calvin said after the service.
“I just want us to be in front of you,” he said. “I want to be perfect and everyone wants to take care of me as a community.”
During the memorial, Trevor Kelly paid tribute to his mother, Ellien, a retired pharmaceutical technician. She was always the last person in her family and was the first to wake up.
“Do you know what that means in the Bible?” Kelly said. “This was an angel God sent to raise us.”
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Eric Nickerson looked back at his father Rodney, who takes pride in his deep family connections with Los Angeles. The city's largest public housing complex, Nickerson Gardenhave their last name.
On a wildfire night, Rodney was in bed at Altadena's house.
“The reason this memorial is important is that these people did nothing but what they should do in their homes,” Sharpton said. “What remains when we don't have the safety and sanctity of our home? What are we supposed to tell our children now?”
Altadena's historically black middle class neighborhood was shaped Racist Housing Practices. The surrounding cities restricted ownership of black homes, causing Altadena to become a shelter.
UCLA researchers said the area closest to the Eton fire boundary and requires the most support to recover.
“This is our blood, this is our sweat,” said Sharpton of the diverse Altadena district. “And we're back, despite it burning on the ground.”
In the service, community leaders urged homeowners to continue to unite and resist the sale of their property in the aftermath of the fire.
“It's a community that can't be replicated,” Calvin said. “Their community remains unchanged because those people need to be loved and given the opportunity to get back on track.”
