Justice Department to Investigate 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre

After over a century, the U.S. Department of Justice has decided to launch its first federal probe into the devastating 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. This tragic event wiped out a thriving Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, leaving behind a grim legacy of loss and destruction. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Kristen Clarke, acknowledged the massacre's significance, stating it was "one of the deadliest episodes of mass racial violence in this nation's history." The announcement follows the dismissal of a reparations case by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in June. The Civil Rights Division's Cold Case Unit is spearheading the investigation under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.

The decision was welcomed by survivors like Lessie Benningfield Randle and Viola Ford Fletcher, who had urged the Biden administration to reopen the case. Damario Solomon-Simmons, the lead attorney for the survivors, expressed excitement and gratitude, noting that the community's persistent efforts finally yielded results. Tiffany Crutcher, a descendant of a massacre survivor, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for recognition and justice.

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