The U.S. Department of Justice has revealed plans to conduct a “review and assessment” of the Tulsa Race Massacre, marking a significant federal investigation long overdue, over a century after this catastrophic event in U.S. racial history.

The final two survivors from the brutal 1921 violence—Viola Fletcher (“Mother Fletcher”) and Lessie Benningfield Randle (“Mother Randle”)—have been urging the federal government for years to investigate the brutal destruction of Greenwood, a prosperous Black community known as “Black Wall Street” in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated that this federal report aims to honor the victims’ legacies and prevent their stories from fading from history, while acknowledging that there are “no expectations” of finding living perpetrators who could face criminal charges for the massacre, decades later.

“We recognize that the descendants of the survivors and the victims still endure the trauma from this act of racial terrorism,” Clarke mentioned. “Though a commission, various historians, and legal experts have previously looked into the Tulsa Massacre, this is the first time the Justice Department is doing so.”

This announcement follows the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s dismissal three months ago of a lawsuit filed by the remaining survivors who were seeking reparations. They argued that the massacre’s aftermath left them facing ongoing racial discrimination and barriers imposed by the city regarding essential needs such as employment, financial stability, education, housing, and justice.

“It’s taken 103 years, but today is a joyful and significant day—it’s an incredible opportunity for us to recognize what occurred here in Tulsa as the most extensive crime scene in U.S. history,” stated Damario Solomon-Simmons, the lead attorney for the survivors, during a press briefing on Monday.

Investigation Initiated as Part of Justice Department’s Cold Case Initiative

The review by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division regarding the Tulsa Race Massacre was initiated under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, which was passed by Congress to pursue justice for victims of racial violence that have long been overlooked. This legislation permits the Justice Department to investigate fatal civil rights crimes that occurred before 1980.

Clarke indicated that the department will explore witness testimonies, historical documentation, and scrutinize the massacre against the backdrop of civil rights laws from both current times and 1921. A public report detailing the findings and conclusions of the investigation is expected to be released by the end of the year.

“In the words of Ida B. Wells, a prominent anti-lynching activist, ‘The way to right the wrongs is by shedding light on them,'” Clarke stated. “We hope these official reports, which represent the Justice Department’s thorough efforts to seek justice, will at the very least ensure that these victims and the tragic events they endured are not forgotten.”

Clarke encouraged anyone with relevant evidence or materials concerning the massacre that is not already part of an established collection to reach out to the Cold Case Division at ColdCase.CivilRights@usdoj.gov, using the subject line “Tulsa Race Massacre.”

The Justice Department did not provide further details on the review and evaluation when contacted by YSL News.

Understanding the Tulsa Race Massacre

In the early 1900s, the 40 blocks north of downtown Tulsa were home to around 10,000 residents, including hundreds of businesses, medical facilities, and even an airport. However, on May 31, 1921, a white mob targeted Greenwood—the Black neighborhood in Tulsa—resulting in the destruction of more than 1,000 homes through looting and burning.

This violent incident reportedly began when a young shoe-shiner named Dick Rowland, 19, was accused of assaulting a 17-year-old white female named Sarah Page on an elevator. Years later, in 2001, the Tulsa Race Riot Commission revealed that Page had been questioned by police but never made any claims of assault.

Following Rowland’s arrest, a group of white individuals demanded his release to enact “mob justice,” which led to a confrontation as Black community members tried to protect Rowland from lynching.

This resulted in a mob invading Greenwood, ravaging businesses and homes alike.

Authorities in Tulsa went as far as to enlist some white individuals as deputies, instructing them to “arm themselves and get to work to target (Black individuals),” based on testimonies and historical records from that time. The Oklahoma National Guard was involved in arresting almost everyone in the Greenwood area.

According to Clarke, “Many believe that the white mob’s underlying intention was to seize the wealth possessed by the Black community, using the accusations against Mr. Rowland as a mere pretext.”

The precise number of lives lost during the massacre may remain unknown, with efforts to locate unmarked graves ongoing even after more than a hundred years. Most historians who have investigated this tragedy estimate that the death toll ranges from 75 to 300 individuals.