Survivors and their families trying to get reparations for the Tulsa Race Massacre were left disappointed as the State Supreme Court dismissed their lawsuit Wednesday.
State Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit from last survivors of Tulsa Race Massacre
Survivors and their families trying to get reparations for the Tulsa Race Massacre were left disappointed as the State Supreme Court dismissed their lawsuit Wednesday.
TODAY’S COURT RULING. YEAH, GUYS, THOSE SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS TO GET WHAT THEY CALL THE JUSTICE OF THEIR LIFETIMES FOR WHAT HAPPENED MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO IN AN 8 TO 1 RULING, THE OKLAHOMA STATE SUPREME COURT UPHELD THE DECISION MADE BY A TULSA DISTRICT JUDGE LAST YEAR. THAT RULING SAID THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE SURVIVORS GRIEVANCES, ALTHOUGH LEGITIMATE, DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPARATIONS IF THEY WERE GOING TO DO REPARATION THE EASY WAY, IT WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE. OUR PARTNER STATION IN TULSA SPOKE WITH WILLIE SELLS, OWNER OF T’S BARBERSHOP, THE LONGEST STANDING BUSINESS ON BLACK WALL STREET SINCE ITS REBIRTH. THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE SUFFERED A TERRIBLE LOSS, AND I THINK IT’S EFFECTIVE. THE CITY DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS, IT’S ESTIMATED UP TO 300 BLACK TULSANS WERE KILLED AND OVER 30 BLOCKS OF THE CITY WERE DEVASTATED BY A WHITE MOB IN 1921. THE FEW LIVING SURVIVORS SUED THE CITY OF TULSA AND OTHERS IN 2020, SEEKING REPARATIONS FOR THE TRAUMA THEY LIVED THROUGH. THE CITY AND INSURANCE COMPANIES NEVER COMPENSATED VICTIMS FOR THEIR LOSSES, AND THEN THE MASSACRE ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN RACIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES THAT STILL EXIST TODAY. THE LAWSUIT ARGUED. WE ARE HOPING AND TRUSTING AND PRAYING THAT, UH, THE CITY, THE STATE OR SOMEBODY IN OKLAHOMA WOULD GIVE REPARATION TO THOSE SURVIVORS, THOSE. NOW, NEITHER THE CITY OF TULSA OR THE ATTORNEYS THAT REPRESENT THE SURVIVORS RETURNED THE MESSAGES FOR A COMMENT ON THE SUPREME COURT’S DE
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State Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit from last survivors of Tulsa Race Massacre
Survivors and their families trying to get reparations for the Tulsa Race Massacre were left disappointed as the State Supreme Court dismissed their lawsuit Wednesday.
Survivors and their families trying to get reparations for the Tulsa Race Massacre were left disappointed as the State Supreme Court dismissed their lawsuit Wednesday.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.In an 8-1 ruling, the court upheld a decision made by a Tulsa District judge last year. That ruling said the Tulsa Race Massacre survivor’s grievances, although legitimate, did not qualify for reparations."If they were going to do reparations the easy way, it would have already been done,” said Willie Sells, owner of Tee’s BarbershopThe barbershop is the longest-standing business on Black Wall Street since its rebirth right after the massacre."Those people that were here suffered a terrible loss, and I think it's affected the city down through the years,” Sells said.>> Download the KOCO 5 AppIt’s estimated that up to 300 black Tulsans were killed, and over 30 blocks of the city were devastated by a white mob in 1921.The city insurance companies never compensated victims of the massacre for their losses, and the massacre ultimately resulted in racial and economic disparities that still exist today, according to the lawsuit.Neither Tulsa City officials nor the attorney representing the survivors returned messages for comment on the court’s ruling.Caddo County traffic stop finds couple stole 25 head of cattle, profiting thousands'Tear down this wall': On this day in history, Reagan challenges GorbachevMovie set to film in Norman looks to bring big boom to city, industryFormer Oklahoma resident turned fugitive extradited from UK after over a decade on the runCrews battle fire after semitrailer engulfed in flames along Turner Turnpike off-ramp to I-35
TULSA, Okla. —
Survivors and their families trying to get reparations for the Tulsa Race Massacre were left disappointed as the State Supreme Court dismissed their lawsuit Wednesday.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
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In an 8-1 ruling, the court upheld a decision made by a Tulsa District judge last year. That ruling said the Tulsa Race Massacre survivor’s grievances, although legitimate, did not qualify for reparations.
"If they were going to do reparations the easy way, it would have already been done,” said Willie Sells, owner of Tee’s Barbershop
The barbershop is the longest-standing business on Black Wall Street since its rebirth right after the massacre.
"Those people that were here suffered a terrible loss, and I think it's affected the city down through the years,” Sells said.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
It’s estimated that up to 300 black Tulsans were killed, and over 30 blocks of the city were devastated by a white mob in 1921.
The city insurance companies never compensated victims of the massacre for their losses, and the massacre ultimately resulted in racial and economic disparities that still exist today, according to the lawsuit.
Neither Tulsa City officials nor the attorney representing the survivors returned messages for comment on the court’s ruling.
- Caddo County traffic stop finds couple stole 25 head of cattle, profiting thousands
- 'Tear down this wall': On this day in history, Reagan challenges Gorbachev
- Movie set to film in Norman looks to bring big boom to city, industry
- Former Oklahoma resident turned fugitive extradited from UK after over a decade on the run
- Crews battle fire after semitrailer engulfed in flames along Turner Turnpike off-ramp to I-35
