US Department of Justice to Investigate Tulsa Massacre of 1921
A Surprising Development in a Historic Case
In a surprise move, the United States Department of Justice has announced that it is opening a cold-case investigation into the Tulsa Massacre of 1921, in which hundreds of black residents of the Oklahoma city were killed by white residents in what amounted to a race riot.
A Long-Delayed Justice
Crimes of this type were difficult to investigate, not least because of the expiry of statutes of limitation, until Congress enacted the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2008, which allows the Justice Department to investigate death-resulting civil rights crimes that occurred on or before December 31, 1979.
Even so, it is not easy going. Federal prosecution is often legally impossible because no federal hate crime laws existed at the time of the crime that would have given the federal government jurisdiction over these racial atrocities.
A Tragic Event in American History
Cold cases are not restricted to recent decades. The Department of Justice recently announced that it is looking into the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the deadliest episodes of mass racial violence in this nation’s history.
The Massacre Itself
On May 31 and June 1, 1921, a white mob attacked a then-thriving Black community: the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma, sometimes referred to as the “Black Wall Street.” The immediate catalyst for the riot was the claim that a Black youth had inappropriately engaged with a white woman.
The young man, Dick Rowland, was arrested. White men went to the jail to demand that he be released to face mob justice. Members of the Black community assembled at the courthouse to try to prevent a lynching. An altercation broke out, and in response, a white mob invaded Greenwood, a predominantly black part of the city.
The mob burned more than 35 square blocks of the community, destroying businesses and homes and killing hundreds of Black men, women, and children, although the exact toll remains uncertain. Some suspect that the aim of the white mob was, all along, to appropriate the wealth of the Black community, and that the allegations against Mr. Rowland were merely an excuse.
Recent Developments
While this race massacre happened 103 years ago, in 1921, there are two survivors, Viola Fletcher (Mother Fletcher) and Lessie Benningfield Randle (Mother Randle), who were babies at the time and whose families were affected for generations by the events of 1921.
The City of Tulsa has itself launched a new review of the massacre and proposed remedial steps. The Justice Department plans to include its findings in the final report.
Conclusion
The US Department of Justice’s decision to investigate the Tulsa Massacre of 1921 is a long-overdue step towards bringing justice to the victims and their families. It is a testament to the progress that has been made in addressing the legacy of racial violence and discrimination in this country, and a reminder of the ongoing work that remains to be done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the Tulsa Massacre? A: The Tulsa Massacre was a race riot that occurred in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921, in which a white mob attacked and killed hundreds of Black residents of the city.
Q: Why did the Department of Justice open an investigation into the Tulsa Massacre? A: The Department of Justice opened an investigation into the Tulsa Massacre because of the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2008, which allows the Department to investigate death-resulting civil rights crimes that occurred on or before December 31, 1979.
Q: How many survivors of the massacre are still alive? A: Two survivors of the massacre, Viola Fletcher (Mother Fletcher) and Lessie Benningfield Randle (Mother Randle), are still alive.
Q: What is the Justice Department’s plan for its investigation? A: The Justice Department plans to include its findings in a public report, and will also work with the City of Tulsa to identify remedial steps that can be taken to address the legacy of the massacre.