Neighbors in Need: The Church of St. Paul in the Desert Stands with Section 14

“Aaron, your house is burning down!” Those words from a friend at work in 1967 struck like a bolt of lightning, leaving Aaron stunned. At just 13, he moved to Section 14 from Chicago, finding a new life in the predominantly black community adjacent to downtown Palm Springs. The neighborhood became home. But now, that home was gone—engulfed in flames as part of the city’s forced demolition of properties in Section 14. What started as a normal day at work turned into a moment that would stick with Aaron throughout his life.

Aaron is a proud member of The Church of St. Paul in the Desert, where many know the pain of being marginalized. For them, the fight for justice is personal. “Are we going to celebrate our personal liberty by holding it safe for ourselves or use it to bring liberation to those who still need it?” said the Rev. Jessie Thompson. It is a question that echoes at the core of our faith—liberty is not meant to be hoarded, but to be shared, especially with those who are still downtrodden.

The Church of St. Paul in the Desert, under the leadership of the Rev. Dan Kline and the Rev. Jessie Thompson, has taken on the cause of advocating for justice in the Section 14 conflict—a painful chapter in the Palm Spring’s history. As a congregation composed largely of older gay men who have faced their own struggles with discrimination, the church is uniquely positioned to understand the plight of the Black and Latino residents who were forcibly removed from their homes more than half a century ago. The Rev. Dan Kline said, “It’s a real way in which our parish has been growing and empowering community advocacy. It is in our DNA.” 

Section 14 is a one-square-mile tract of land adjacent to downtown Palm Springs, California–historically owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. In the mid-1900s, the Section 14 neighborhood was formed due to discriminatory housing practices. If you were a person of color living in Palm Springs, you were required to live in Section 14. Many of the residents were in the military or worked in the city’s booming tourism industry, serving as gardeners, housekeepers, and construction workers. 

In the 1950s and 1960s, Section 14 became a focal point for redevelopment as Palm Springs sought to capitalize on its growing reputation as a glamorous vacation town. The city, citing health and safety concerns, issued eviction notices to residents, declaring many of the homes as substandard. 

Over the course of several years, the Palm Springs Fire Department, under city direction, demolished or burned down 235 structures in Section 14, forcibly displacing over 1,000 residents. The evictions were conducted with little to no warning for many families. A 1968 report by the California Attorney General called the actions a “city-engineered holocaust.” 

Today, Section 14’s survivors are still seeking justice, and the Church of St. Paul in the Desert has made it a point of focus. The church, known for its inclusivity and compassion, has embraced the fight for reparations as a moral and theological issue. “Our faith calls us to pay attention to who our neighbors are and to partner with our neighbors; so Section 14, thank you for inviting us into your neighborhood. We know that when your neighbors are hurting, you stand with them!” said the Rev. Jessie Thompson. 

On September 11, 2024, over 100 people gathered at Palm Springs City Hall for a prayer service and rally demanding justice for the survivors of Section 14. St. Paul in the Desert expressed their solidarity with those who had lost their homes and livelihoods and underscored the relevance of Section 14 today.

Opening the demonstration in prayer, the Rev. Dan Kline asked God to “soften the hearts of the city leaders” and to give them “the courage to do what is right, that may not be politically popular, but is the right thing to do.” His words resonated deeply with the crowd, reminding them that justice and peace are inseparable.

The Rev. Dan Kline notes, “We have a survivor of Section 14 and a relative of the conservator of the tribe in the same congregation. While we support the Survivors in having a seat at the table in these conversations, we also are trying to listen to opposing groups like the Friends of Frank Bogert. We are called to be prophetic and pastoral, activist and chaplain. There is a nuance to supporting the right of the survivors to seek justice, acknowledging that this occurred on tribal land and benefited indigenous persons whose economic welfare had been largely suppressed due to discriminatory federal laws, and to admitting that this was a complex situation that white leaders of the city did not have the tools or language to adequately address. It is easy to pass judgment from the rearview mirror of history, and we are called to confess our collective sins, receive absolution and the gift of grace, make amends, and find the peace that comes only from sacrificing our comfort for the sake of the other – including the comfort of avoiding uncomfortable conversations and decisions.”

Section 14 is now largely erased from the landscape, replaced by a convention center, hotels, and a casino, and the memories of forced removal remain.

Many survivors, along with their descendants, continue to seek reparations for the loss of homes and personal property, as well as for the racial trauma endured. The history of Section 14 is a painful reminder of the intersections of race, wealth, and power in America, and it continues to be a focal point for discussions on justice and reconciliation in Palm Springs.(1)

The story of Section 14 is one of pain and loss but also of resilience and hope. With the spiritual leadership of the Rev. Dan Kline and the Rev. Jessie Thompson, and the commitment of the congregation, St. Paul in the Desert is showcasing what our faith means by standing with the oppressed, seeking justice, and working toward a future where liberty and justice are shared by all.

“It’s been amazing to see how our parishioners are living out their baptismal covenant in respecting the worth and dignity of every human being,” said the Rev. Dan Kline.  

(1) https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/21/us/section-14-palm-springs-reparations.html

Edited 9.18.24 for additional context