The Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed a historic reparations lawsuit on Wednesday, filed by survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The suit, initiated in 2020, sought compensation for the estimated 300 Black Americans killed when a white mob destroyed Tulsa’s Greenwood neighborhood.
The lawsuit was brought under Oklahoma’s public nuisance law, arguing that the destruction of the “Black Wall Street” continues to impact the community today. Defendants included the Tulsa County sheriff, county commissioners, and the Oklahoma Military Department.
The court ruled that while the grievances were legitimate, they did not fit the public nuisance statute. This decision upheld a lower court’s ruling from last July, which stated that a historical event connection does not grant unlimited rights to seek compensation.
Only two known survivors remain, Viola Fletcher, 110, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, 109. Their third co-plaintiff, Hughes Van Ellis, passed away last year at 102.
Tulsa officials responded by expressing respect for the court’s decision and affirming their commitment to supporting the North Tulsa and Greenwood communities.
Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons, representing Ms. Fletcher and Ms. Randle, emphasized that this ruling likely marks the final chance for the survivors to receive compensation. The legal team plans to petition for the Oklahoma Supreme Court to rehear the case and reconsider its decision.
