Kevin De León plans to introduce a City Council motion to rename Pershing Square after Biddy Mason, a little-known L.A. philanthropist who started life as a slave.
It was nearly a year ago when Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León broke ground on a multimillion-dollar renovation of Pershing Square in downtown L.A. The ceremony marked the first of three construction phases that will transform the concrete space into a more accessible and attractive public square by demolishing walls, lowering the park to street level and adding more greenery. Phase One is expected to cost about $21 million.
By then, California had been admitted to the Union, and slavery was illegal. Eventually, Mason fought for her freedom in court, with the judge ruling in her favor and that of other Smith's other slaves Her case was one of the first legal challenges in Los Angeles and set a precedent for others to petition for their freedom in California. Mason then went to work as a nurse and midwife, saving $2.
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