In a heartfelt plea for justice, Tulsa race massacre survivors Lessie Benningfield Randle, 109, and Viola Fletcher, 110, expressed their deep sadness over the dismissal of their historic lawsuit seeking restitution for the survivors and descendants of the 1921 tragedy. The Oklahoma supreme court ruled last month that the suit did not fall within the scope of the state's public nuisance statute, denying the survivors the opportunity for redress.

The lawsuit aimed to address the long-lasting impact of the massacre, during which an estimated 300 Black Tulsans were killed and Greenwood, once a thriving district known as "Black Wall Street," was decimated by racist violence. The survivors recounted their experiences, including witnessing white pilots dropping dynamite into the streets in what is considered one of the first aerial bombardments of a US city.

Sadly, no one was persecuted for these crimes, and the city of Tulsa never provided reparations or meaningful redress for the survivors. Insurance payments were either unpaid or insignificant, leaving the Black Tulsans who remained in Oklahoma living in fear or forced to flee. The survivors and their descendants have long sought acknowledgment and restitution for the atrocities committed against their community.

During a press conference, the survivors' statement, read on their behalf by a litigation associate, expressed their disappointment that they may not live long enough to see Oklahoma and the United States of America genuinely address the injustices of the Tulsa race massacre. At ages 109 and 110, they are aware that time is limited, and they emphasize the profound systemic failure that has marred the nation's response to the massacre.

Speakers at the press conference referenced a meeting with President Joe Biden in 2021, during which he promised to see that justice is served. The survivors' lead attorney, Damario Solomon-Simmons, called upon President Biden to fulfill his promise and urged the Department of Justice to investigate the Tulsa race massacre. The survivors' counsel has filed a petition for a rehearing, highlighting perceived inconsistencies and issues with the Oklahoma supreme court's decision.

They emphasized that the survivors' pleas for justice should not be reduced to mere sympathetic words or empty promises but rather require tangible actions. The survivors and their supporters are calling for a thorough investigation by the Department of Justice into the events of the Tulsa race massacre.

Furthermore, the survivors underscored the unjust enrichment they believe the city of Tulsa has experienced through various tours and events that showcase the history of Black Wall Street and the massacre but fail to benefit the survivors in any meaningful way.

With the Oklahoma supreme court's dismissal of their lawsuit, the survivors' demands for justice have only intensified. They resolved to continue shedding light on one of the darkest days in American history and maintain their call for a Department of Justice investigation. The community, the nation, and history itself are watching, waiting for the administration to take decisive action and ensure the peaceful rest of those who suffered during the Tulsa race massacre.