STOP REPLACING BLACK FACES WITH GREEN SPACES!

Twenty-seven families used to reside in homes between Greenfield and Connally Street on Atlanta Avenue in the Peoplestown community of Atlanta-- a historically Black community. Now there are just four homes remaining on the block in this rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. For the past eight years, the City of Atlanta threatened and used eminent domain to force residents out of their homes, claiming they needed to build a fancy park and pond to address flooding issues. The City’s claims were not true, but because the residents refused to leave, on Oct. 31, 2016, the City sued the home defenders and took their names off the deeds to their property.

 

Kimberly Scott a former City of Atlanta engineer and project manager repeatedly informed the City that they only had engineering data to support taking 2-4 homes before the first of 20+ homes was demolished and 20+ families displaced. Despite clear evidence that the City did not need to take this block of homes, it remains committed to its unlawful use of eminent domain , and this week residents learned that eviction notices have been filed to evict them in the midst of a pandemic.

Eight years of rallies, press conferences, meetings at City Hall, court appearances and protests have exacted a mental, emotional, physical and financial toll on Mr. and Mrs. Darden and Tanya Washington. Ms. Mattie who carried the torch in the 1996 Olympics , and had been an active member fighting for city resources and equitable development for over 50 years in the City of Atlanta, died in 2020 after spending her final years fighting the City of Atlanta to stay in her home. Just four years before she passed, then-Mayor Kasim Reed declared she could stay in her home but the City's attorneys made clear in court that they were just waiting for her to die.

 

The ongoing threat of displacement took a toll on Ms. Mattie's 98-year-old body and mind. Though she took her final breath in her own house, the City of Atlanta is now moving aggressively to take all that her family has left of their beloved matriarch-- her home.

The Dardens are 30 year residents of Peoplestown and Mrs. Washington has lived in the community for 10 years. This fight against the City has led to immeasurable costs to the residents. The costs of litigation alone (lawyers' and expert engineers' fees) forced the Dardens out of retirement to make ends meet, during their 5 year court battle. All the remaining residents are struggling financially to pay their mounting debt, while the City continues with its efforts to displace them by eminent domain and to build a park and pond for new residents to enjoy.

 

We know there is power in numbers, and strength in community. We are still in this fight because of the thousands of people who have stood with us and fought with and for us against the actions of Atlanta City Mayors Kasim Reed and Keisha Lance Bottoms. We are grateful to and for them! Please watch our video and consider a monetary donation in any amount to help us to continue our fight to stay in our homes.

 

 

Peace & Gratitude,

 

Bertha Darden and Tanya Washington