Justice Department Initiates First Federal Review of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, According to Reuters

By Jasper Ward

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a review of the 1921 race massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, according to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke.

The violence began on May 31, 1921, when white mobs attacked Tulsa’s Greenwood neighborhood, resulting in the deaths of as many as 300 individuals, predominantly Black residents. This area was known as "Black Wall Street" due to its vibrant economic activity.

In her announcement on Monday, Clarke stated that the review is expected to be completed by the end of the year. "When we have concluded our federal review, we will provide a report analyzing the massacre in the context of both contemporary and historical civil rights law," she noted, highlighting her role in overseeing the Justice Department’s civil rights enforcement.

This review will fall under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, which authorizes the Department of Justice to investigate civil rights crimes resulting in death that occurred on or before December 31, 1979.

The violence was sparked after a Black man was accused of assaulting a white woman.

"We do not expect that there are living perpetrators who could face criminal prosecution by us or by the state," Clarke stated. "While prior examinations of the Tulsa Massacre have been conducted by various commissions, historians, and lawyers, the Justice Department has not undertaken such a review until now."

Clarke indicated that the department will analyze available documents, witness testimonies, scholarly research, and other relevant information pertaining to the massacre.