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The ADOS Advocacy Foundation remains fully committed to advancing reparations. However, the case unfolding in Sparta, Georgia, highlights the deep connection between land theft and the racial wealth gap.
The Sandersville Railroad Company is attempting to seize land from a small group of Black American property owners to build a new railroad line. They are using eminent domain as their legal tool, arguing that the project serves the public good. The Georgia Public Service Commission has sided with the railroad, supporting the claim that the project justifies the forced seizure of land.
Why This Matters
The issue with this decision is clear: while eminent domain is meant to serve the public, in this case, it primarily benefits private corporations, not the community at large. We strongly oppose this attempted land theft and stand firmly with the Black property owners in Sparta.
A History of Land Theft
This is not an isolated incident. Black landowners in Georgia have faced generations of dispossession. In the past, land was stolen through lynching, intimidation, and racial violence. One of the most notorious examples occurred in Forsyth County, where white mobs forced all Black residents to flee, leaving behind homes and land. Many white residents later acquired that land through adverse possession and property tax payments.
Cases like Forsyth County strengthen the case for reparations. And while what is happening in Sparta today does not involve violence, the tactic of using eminent domain to dispossess Black landowners continues this long history of injustice.
Take Action
The case has already been decided in the state trial court, which ruled in favor of the railroad. However, the Georgia Supreme Court will hear the appeal soon.
Now is the time to act.
Sign the petition to support the property owners in Sparta, Georgia.
Our organization will be traveling to Sparta soon to meet with affected residents, document their stories, and continue raising awareness about this injustice. Stay tuned for updates, and stand with us in this fight.
