California 'architect' of 19th century native American genocide, 'US govt 'funded' most of killing'

Benjamin Madley, a History Professor at UCLA and author of 'An American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 1846-1873', argues that 19th-century actions against Native Americans in California constitute genocide. His research challenges previous narratives attributing the demographic collapse primarily to disease or displacement. Madley asserts that a state-sponsored system of violence, funded by the US government, meets the legal and historical criteria for genocide. Despite this immense loss, California’s Indigenous peoples have endured, rebuilt, and continue to assert their sovereignty. This work redefines understanding of a critical period in American history.