Justice Department review finds Tulsa Race Massacre was a coordinated and 'systemic' attack

The Justice Department on Friday released the results of its review of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, and found that the attack was so coordinated and "systemic" that it "transcended mere mob violence." 

The DOJ announced the investigation last September as part of the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act. 

The findings mark the first time the Justice Department has spoken publicly about the events of the massacre, where thousands of white Tulsans stormed the affluent black neighborhood of Greenwood, referred to as "Black Wall Street." The massacre took place between May 31 and June 1, 1921, and thousands of black homes and businesses were destroyed.

“The Tulsa Race Massacre stands out as a civil rights crime unique in its magnitude, barbarity, racist hostility and its utter annihilation of a thriving Black community,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division said in a statement. "Until this day, the Justice Department has not spoken publicly about this race massacre or officially accounted for the horrific events that transpired in Tulsa. 

"This report breaks that silence by rigorous examination and a full accounting of one of the darkest episodes of our nation’s past," she continued. "This report lays bare new information and shows that the massacre was the result not of uncontrolled mob violence, but of a coordinated, military-style attack on Greenwood."

Clarke noted that although the findings break the silence, no legal recourse can be taken because the statute of limitations has long passed, and no person directly involved is alive to prosecute. 

The report also found that the event transpired because of unfounded allegations that a black man assaulted a white woman. The white members of the city called for a lynching of the man, but the local sheriff asked black men from Greenwood to help prevent a lynching which escalated tensions and resulted in the massacre.

The attack also resulted in the deaths of hundreds of black residents and the arrests of more than 6,000 black Tulsans.

The DOJ concluded that if current civil rights laws had been in effect in 1921, federal prosecutors could have pursued hate crime charges against the massacre’s perpetrators. But because it was not, no legal recourse or assistance was offered to the black residents.

"This report reflects our commitment to the pursuit of justice and truth, even in the face of insurmountable obstacles," Clarke said. "We issue this report with recognition of the courageous survivors who continue to share their testimonies, acknowledgement of those who tragically lost their lives and appreciation for other impacted individuals and advocates who collectively push for us to never forget this tragic chapter of America’s history.”   

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.