Summary

• A self-reliant African American (Gullah) community on the coast of Georgia from 1865 to 1942. Seventy-five families prosper as farmers and fishermen.
• 2,687 acres located in northeast corner of McIntosh County, 40 miles south of Savannah.
• Land is taken by Federal government, via Eminent Domain, in summer of 1942 to build an Army air field.
• Government promises to return the land at the end of World War II.
• Community is destroyed. People’s Due Process rights are violated in numerous ways.
• 1947: Land is not returned as promised but given to McIntosh County by War Assets Administration for use as a county airport.
• 1947-1961: McIntosh County violates its contract with Federal government in numerous illegal ways. Federal government takes back the land in 1961.
• 1961-1962: Title transfers within the Federal government, eventually to the Department of Interior, which turns the land into a National Wildlife Refuge in 1962.
• 1962-Present: Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, operated by US Fish & Wildlife.
• 1979-1980: Efforts by former community members and their descendants to reclaim their land (the First Movement).
• 1980: Federal Judge Avant Edenfield rules against the return of the land to the former community, saying Statute of Limitations has expired and that there is no remedy available through the courts – only Congress can return the land.
• 1988: Congress passed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, awarding $1.6 billion to 80,000 Japanese American families for injustices they suffered during World War II.
• 2005: Return of more than 15,000 acres to the Colorado River Indian Tribes for land taken from them by Executive Order of President Woodrow Wilson in 1915.
• 2005: The Harris Neck Justice Movement begins. Families are located.
• 2006: Family Representatives of each of the families of the former Harris Neck community are appointed.
• 2006: Harris Neck Land Trust LLC is formed. It is the center of the new strategy to reclaim Harris Neck for former community members and their descendants.
• 2007 (January): Harris Neck Resolution is passed by McIntosh County Board of Commissioners, acknowledging conspiracy by County officials in 1940s and supporting the present Harris Neck movement.
• 2007: Environmental and Cultural Site Assessments are completed.
• 2007: Harris Neck Community Plan is developed and adopted by the Trust.
• 2008: Meetings with key members of Congress begin.
• 2009: Legislation to effect the return of Harris Neck is written.
• 2009: Sponsorship of the Bill (Harris Neck Recovery Act) is worked out.
• 2010 (spring): National media campaign is launched.
• 2010: Discussions continue with several key members of Congress, and Trust prepares for testimony in front of the Congressional Committee on Natural Resources.

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