US Senate approves Lankford bill establishing National Monument in North Tulsa

Senate Approves Lankford Bill Establishing National Monument in North Tulsa

WASHINGTON, DC (May 23rd) – Thursday, the United States Senate approved the Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Establishment Act by unanimous consent. The legislation will designate as a national monument the Historic Greenwood District of North Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre took place.

Senator James Lankford (R-OK) was joined by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in first introducing the legislation in 2023. During the last Congress, the bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources where Lankford testified on the importance of the national monument to North Tulsa. The legislation was then passed unanimously by the full Senate.

OK Congressional members introduce resolution to highlight the Tulsa Race Massacre centennial

Oklahoma Congressional Delegation introduces resolution to highlight the important history of the Centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre

Tulsa, OK – Members of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation released the following statements in support of a resolution introduced to Congress today honoring the centennial of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) introduced in the House, and Senator James Lankford introduced in the Senate.

The resolution recognizes the history of Black Wall Street in Tulsa’s Greenwood district. It gives an accurate account of the violence that occurred on May 31 and June 1, 1921 and acknowledges it as the worst race massacre in the history of the United States. Furthermore, the resolution urges the Tulsa Race Massacre be taught in American schools and recognizes the important work of organizations like the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission and John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation.

Representative Hern (OK-01) said, “The Tulsa Race Massacre is an important piece of our history, and it’s important to own that. The destruction of Black Wall Street devastated economic opportunities for generations of Tulsa’s Black families. Our resolution honors the loss of those who were killed 100 years ago and acknowledges this painful memory in our city’s history as the horrific and race-motivated attack it was. 100 years later, we still have a long way to go. The centennial is an opportunity to remember, and this resolution helps us tell the world the accurate story of what happened on our streets in 1921 and how it shaped our city in the years after. As we move forward past this week’s centennial, we continue to strive for reconciliation. I’m proud of the recent investments in Greenwood to bring back Black Wall Street, and I hope to see it continue to grow and thrive at the heart of Tulsa.”

Hern comments on George Floyd and the 99th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre

Hern statement on George Floyd and the 99th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre

TULSA, OK – This morning, Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement recognizing 99 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre, the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and the protests in Tulsa this weekend.

“99 years ago, Tulsa faced one of the darkest moments in our city’s history,” said Rep. Hern. “White rioters burned down Black Wall Street, our nation’s most affluent black neighborhood, in the worst act of racial violence American has ever seen. This is the most shameful chapter in our city’s history.

“Nearly a century has passed, but racial inequality is still alive and well in the United States. The injustice done to George Floyd and his family is reprehensible. Records show that this bad cop had a history of excessive force incidents – he should not have been on the police force in the first place. I join President Trump’s call for a full investigation, and I pray justice is served.”

Rep. Hern continued, “Our nation is hurting, that much is crystal clear. We are currently facing unrest unlike any we’ve seen since the 1960s. We have a right to be angry, and I applaud those around the country who have engaged in peaceful protests. This weekend, we had multiple peaceful demonstrations around Tulsa. While many of our country’s cities are on fire, protesters in Tulsa worked hard to keep the peace, protect our city, and stop out-of-state agitators from inciting violence. I support the Tulsans who marched this weekend, and I support those who attended similar demonstrations around the country. I cannot, however, sanction or support the destruction of property. Businesses in our country have never been in a more vulnerable position. We are just beginning to reopen get our local economies running again, we cannot sabotage our own recovery. Fortunately, this was not the case in Tulsa, but I’ve seen countless small business owners across the country, including many minority and immigrant business owners, watch their life’s work go up in flames in response to a crime committed by four white cops in Minneapolis.