In a powerful move toward racial justice, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors has approved a $1 million redress fund to compensate the families of Russell City, a predominantly Black and Latino community that was forcibly destroyed in the 1960s.

The community of Russell City, founded in 1853, was systematically dismantled through eminent domain, with 205 families and 33 individuals evicted from their homes and businesses. County officials declared the area “blighted” and bulldozed the entire 200-acre town to make way for an industrial park in Hayward.

Supervisor Elisa Marquez, who grew up in Hayward, was unequivocal about the historical injustice. “The destruction of Russell City is an atrocity that cannot be undone,” she stated. The fund represents a tangible step toward acknowledging the profound harm inflicted on these communities.

The redress fund will be compiled from several sources, including $400,000 from Marquez’s office, and additional contributions from Supervisors Nikki Fortunato Bas and David Haubert. Supervisor Haubert emphasized the importance of confronting historical wrongs, noting that many affected residents and their descendants still live in the community.

This initiative follows a formal county apology issued two years ago and is part of a broader effort to recognize the systemic racism that led to the community’s destruction. The fund aims to provide some measure of healing and justice to the families who were uprooted from their homes and businesses.

The story of Russell City is a stark reminder of how institutional racism can devastate entire communities. By establishing this redress fund, Alameda County is taking a critical step toward acknowledging past harms and working to repair the damage done to generations of Black and Latino residents.

While no amount of money can fully compensate for the loss of homes, businesses, and community, this fund represents a meaningful commitment to truth, reconciliation, and racial equity.