On September 30, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its first-ever review of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. This historic step marks a new chapter in seeking accountability and justice.
The DOJ’s review, once published, should serve as a stepping stone toward a full investigation that publicly names the people, companies, and institutions responsible for the Massacre and the ongoing cover up — and criminally prosecutes the entities that are still around.
Additionally, we hope the actions by the DOJ will pave the way for reparations to finally be paid to us and the many descendants of the Massacre.
Viola Ford “Mother” Fletcher, 110, and Lessie Benningfield “Mother” Randle, 109, are the last known living survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Read their statement on the DOJ’s recent announcement.
"As the only living survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre, we applaud the Department of Justice’s decision to, at long last, formally look into Greenwood’s destruction. We desperately needed this lifeline amid the state's ongoing efforts to gaslight us and conceal the conspiracy to wipe Black Wall Street off the map. America will soon record the truth about the devastation that we and our beloved community endured, and, we pray, show who was behind the plunder.
This moment marks significant progress toward justice, but too many Greenwood residents have died without remedy for this to be the end of our journey. The DOJ’s review, once published, should serve as a stepping stone toward a full investigation that publicly names the people, companies, and institutions responsible for the Massacre and the ongoing cover up -- and criminally prosecutes the entities that are still around. Additionally, we hope the actions by the DOJ will pave the way for reparations to finally be paid to us and the many descendants of the Massacre.
Unfortunately, access to truthful history about the Black experience is under attack across the nation. But we hope Greenwood's example shows that organizing, persistence, and faith can blaze the path forward, even when the road is dark and democracy feels fragile.
We are weary, yet committed to being fully engaged in this process, as we are the last of the living history of the Massacre. We hope that the DOJ’s findings will finally bring accountability within reach—and that we are alive to see it.
— Mother Randle and Mother Fletcher
Support the 1921 survivors and descendants in their fight for justice and reparations—sign our letter urging the DOJ to fully investigate the massacre.