The Justice Department announced its intention to initiate a review of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a violent attack by a white mob on a prosperous Black community, recognized as one of the most egregious acts of racial violence in U.S. history.
This review is part of a federal cold-case initiative aimed at addressing some Civil Rights Era incidents. However, Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kristen Clarke noted that they have “no expectation” of identifying any living individuals who could face prosecution stemming from this inquiry. Nonetheless, the establishment of a federal investigation into the massacre has been welcomed by the descendants of survivors, who have long criticized local and state leaders for insufficient efforts to compensate those affected by the tragedy.
Clarke indicated that the agency plans to release a public report outlining its findings by year-end. “We acknowledge descendants of the survivors, and the victims continue to bear the trauma of this act of racial terrorism,” Clarke stated during her speech in Washington.
