On St. Helena Island, South Carolina, a group of Gullah Geechee residents are suing to maintain visitation rights to a cemetery filled with their ancestors after developers attempted to build over the burial site, according to Capital B. Established in the 1880s, the residents say the land is sacred because it houses the graves of Black American enslaved people and their descendants. 

The 2024 lawsuit contests Beaufort County’s decision to allow developers to approve a residential development atop the cemetery and claims the project could destroy the graves. According to Capital B, one of the plaintiffs, the St. Helena Island African American Heritage Preservation Society, claims that developers improperly overlooked the site’s historical significance prior to approvals. 

A plaintiff's representative stated, "This cemetery connects us to our ancestors who endured slavery and built this community. We cannot tolerate disrespect for their last resting place." 

For centuries, the Gullah Geechee people, who are direct descendants of West Africa brought to North America for chattel slavery, have worked diligently to preserve the history and culture of both their native land and traditions they created in the U.S.  

Violations of strict state laws protecting historic sites and human remains are mentioned in court documents. To stop construction until a thorough archaeological survey is completed, the plaintiffs have requested an injunction. Preservationists contend that the case illustrates more general conflicts in rapidly expanding coastal areas between development plans and cultural preservation. 

Beaufort County officials chose not to comment.