A district court judge will decide whether or not a reparations case filed by survivors and descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre will proceed to trial on Monday.
The lawsuit, which was filed in March 2021, aims to not only correct the record on what happened between May 31 and June 1, 1921 but also to establish a special fund for survivors and descendants of the massacre, which killed at least 300 Black people and destroyed Greenwood, a once-thriving neighborhood.
Furthermore, plaintiffs’ lawyers are working against the clock. Three of their patrons are beyond the age of 100.
An attorney for the plaintiffs, Damario Solomon-Simmons, told CNN that he received a text message from Van Ellis, also known as Uncle Red, that read: “Please let them know that they’re trying to wait out the three survivors,” news flashes, “communicating with any of the other attorneys” — referring to the defendants. With three exclamation points, we’re not going anywhere.”
Judge Caroline Wall’s judgment on the case’s future, which has been 100 years in the making, will finally hold America accountable for a prior injustice, Solomon-Simmons said and might pave the way for future similar lawsuits.
“I can’t wait to appear in front of Judge Caroline Wall and explain to her why, given the facts and the law, we should be able to move forward,” Solomon-Simmons said. “We’re not asking her to determine whether or not we win our case, and she’s not obligated to do so. All we’re asking for is the chance to bring this case forward so we can show what we’ve claimed we can prove.”
Both three survivors sat in the front row of a crowded courtroom with standing room only on all sides and at the rear for the hearing on Monday. Sheila Jackson Lee, a US Representative from Texas, was among the attendees.
Prior to Monday’s proceedings, Lee stated, “We are dealing with government-sanctioned violations and violence.” “I live in a country where the government is required to address the public’s grievances.”
A jubilant audience greeted Solomon-Simmons as he entered the courtroom. He pleaded the case to expedite the trial.
“They’ve been waiting for their day in court for 300 years or more,” Solomon-Simmons said of the three survivors. He stated that the major goal of this action is to reverse the defendants’ injury, claiming that anything that has a long-term effect has no time limit.
Simmons stated, “Injustice plus time does not equal justice.”
CNN spoke with Solomon-Simmons. Greenwood’s devastation isn’t unique; comparable tragedies have occurred in Black communities throughout history.
“Because of the scale and extent of the devastation, it’s unique. It’s unique in that we have so much material, including genuine video, hundreds of photos, and hundreds of unpaid insurance claims, as well as three surviving survivors “he stated, “How can we win if Black people can’t win?”
