Oklahoma's Supreme Court discards legal action filed by survivors of the Tulsa Race Riot incident.
The court stated, "While the plaintiffs have valid complaints, they do not fit within the boundaries of our state's public nuisance law."
Hughes Van Ellis, Viola Fletcher, and Lessie Benningfield Randle filed this lawsuit in 2020, with Ellis passing away last year at 102 years old.
The plaintiffs contested the trial court judge's dismissal of their lawsuit, agreeing with the city of Tulsa that, "just because one is tied to a historical event, it doesn't grant unlimited rights to seek compensation."
The attack on Tulsa's Greenwood neighborhood, nicknamed Black Wall Street, was brought to an end.
The plaintiffs' case was based on their entitlement to reparations under the city's public nuisance statute. Additionally, they claimed the city of Tulsa was misusing the massacre site by marketing it as a tourist attraction without sharing any of the benefits with the community.
Please stay tuned for the most recent updates on this developing story.
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Despite the court's decision, the survivors and their families continue to seek justice, hoping that the United States government will offer them reparations. The Tulsa Race Riot incident affects us all, and it's important that the US acknowledges and addresses its historical wrongs.
