Former Florida Sen. Daryl Jones was one of the only state senators ever to secure reparations for African Americans. In 1994, Sen. Jones helped get Senate approval for $2.1 million in reparations for survivors of the 1923 Rosewood massacre. The homes, churches and stores were burned in Rosewood by whites looking for a Black man who had allegedly assaulted a married white woman. At least six Black people and two whites were killed.
The claim against the state was based on a lack of action by government officials to protect Rosewood residents’ lives and property. “Our system of justice failed the citizens of Rosewood,” said Jones, a Democrat from Miami who served from 1992 to 2002. “This is your chance to right an atrocious wrong.”
Jones’ son, Derek Jones, built a business to advance the quality of life for people who have been traditionally excluded from economic participation. His company, UnitedCoin, is a Securities And Exchange-registered company and cryptocurrency.
