The Rev. Al Sharpton will visit Pasadena on Thursday to lead a memorial service and a rally for victims of the Los Angeles fires. Accompanying him will be attorney Ben Crump, who represents families of people killed in the fires, along with several relatives of the deceased. This Thursday, I will join with Attorney Crump to bring the community together to mourn those we have lost and galvanize them to recover, restore, and rebuild.
The devastating fires cut across social classes, with a death toll that has reached at least 29 people. The Eaton fire, at the foot of the San Gabriel mountains, ripped through a historic and predominantly Black community in Altadena, wiping out many older homes and with them accumulated generational wealth.
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The Altadena fire wiped out much of a historic Black enclave in this picturesque town in the San Gabriel Valley. The year-old Sharpton, who heads the New York City-based National Action Network, holds a committed but controversial record as a civil rights leader.
While his oratory continues to project passion for justice, his controversial image has faded somewhat as his civil rights goals have become more inclusive. The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. De Los. Times Everywhere. For Subscribers. All Sections. LA Times Studios. Live Stream. Times Store. About Us. Special Supplements. By Russ Mitchell Staff Writer. Share via Close extra sharing options. California Against all odds, Black residents built something remarkable in Altadena.
