The U.S. Department of Justice has announced its intention to launch a review and evaluation of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a tragic event where a white mob attacked a prosperous Black district in what is considered one of the most horrific acts of violence against Black people in American history. This review is part of a federal cold-case initiative that aims to bring justice to some Civil Rights Era cases, although Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kristen Clarke clarified that there are no living individuals expected to be prosecuted as a result of the inquiry.
Despite the unlikely possibility of prosecutions, the announcement of this federal probe into the Tulsa massacre has been welcomed by descendants of survivors who have long been critical of the lack of compensation and recognition from city and state authorities. The Justice Department plans to release a public report detailing its findings by the end of the year as a step towards acknowledging the continued trauma experienced by descendants of the victims.
One of the lead attorneys for the last known survivors of the massacre, Viola Fletcher (110 years old) and Lessie Benningfield Randle (109 years old), expressed joy and relief over this long-awaited federal review. The attorney emphasised the importance of understanding and acknowledging the true nature of the events that unfolded in Tulsa in 1921, describing it as the largest crime scene in U.S. history.
During the massacre, as many as 300 Black individuals were killed, over 1,200 homes, businesses, schools, and churches were destroyed, and thousands were forced into internment camps under the supervision of the National Guard. The recent dismissal of a lawsuit by survivors by the Oklahoma Supreme Court has heightened calls for justice and restitution to be made for the atrocities committed during the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Advocates for racial justice have been pushing for accountability and reparations, with hopes that the federal investigation will shed new light on the events of the massacre and the aftermath. The Department of Justice’s involvement follows a request made by Solomon-Simmons after the state Supreme Court rejected the survivors’ lawsuit, citing legal limitations.
While investigation into historic cases is challenging and the prospect of courtroom justice in such cases is rare, the review under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act signifies a step towards acknowledging and addressing the racial injustices of the past. This federal initiative has seen successful prosecutions in Civil Rights Era cases, including cases involving the Ku Klux Klan and racially motivated crimes in the South.
The Justice Department’s commitment to examining the Tulsa Race Massacre marks a significant milestone in the ongoing pursuit of justice and historical truth. The federal review aims to provide closure and recognition for the descendants of survivors and victims of this tragic chapter in American history.