Oklahoma
Last known survivors of Tulsa Race Massacre challenge Oklahoma high court decision
OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorneys for the last two remaining survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre asked the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday to reconsider the case they dismissed last month and called on the Biden administration to help the two women seek justice.
Viola Fletcher, 110, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, 109, are the last known survivors of one of the single worst acts of violence against Black people in U.S. history. As many as 300 Black people were killed; more than 1,200 homes, businesses, schools and churches were destroyed; and thousands were forced into internment camps overseen by the National Guard when a white mob, including some deputized by authorities, looted and burned the Greenwood District, also known as Black Wall Street.
In a petition for rehearing, the women asked the court to reconsider its 8-1 vote upholding the decision of a district court judge in Tulsa last year to dismiss the case.
“Oklahoma, and the United States of America, have failed its Black citizens,” the two women said in a statement read by McKenzie Haynes, a member of their legal team. “With our own eyes, and burned deeply into our memories, we watched white Americans destroy, kill, and loot.”
“And despite these obvious crimes against humanity, not one indictment was issued, most insurance claims remain unpaid or were paid for only pennies on the dollar, and Black Tulsans were forced to leave their homes and live in fear.”
Attorney Damario Solomon Simmons also called on the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into the massacre under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007, which allows for the reopening of cold cases of violent crimes against Black people committed before 1970. A message left with the DOJ seeking comment was not immediately returned.
The lawsuit was an attempt under Oklahoma’s public nuisance law to force the city of Tulsa and others to make restitution for the destruction. Attorneys also argued that Tulsa appropriated the historic reputation of Black Wall Street “to their own financial and reputational benefit.” They argue that any money the city receives from promoting Greenwood or Black Wall Street, including revenue from the Greenwood Rising History Center, should be placed in a compensation fund for victims and their descendants.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Temperatures stay hot this week, and this 4th of July looks hot into the afternoon. Showers and storms are also possible during the afternoon and evening on Thursday.
Severe storm warnings and watches in the state:
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Caddo and Grady County until 3:15pm.
What is the weather like on Thursday, July 4 in Oklahoma?
Happy Independence Day, Oklahoma! For many it will be a scorcher. Highs will be in the triple digits with heat index values from 105 to 115 degrees.
There is a chance of severe storms into the afternoon. These storms will likely develop along a strong cold front around 3:00 PM. The highest chance for the OKC Metro is from 3 PM – 7 PM.
Storms Thursday could produce large hail and winds up to 80 mph along with intense lightning.
By late this evening, storms will be weakening and pushing south. Folks south of I-40 may have to dodge a few storms for the fireworks displays.
What does the weather look like for the rest of the week?
Much cooler temps. arrive Friday and into the weekend. A great weather pattern for next week as the heat dome is out west leaving us in a cooler spot! We also see rain and storms off and on next week.
Follow our meteorologists!
Meteorologist David Payne
Meteorologist Lacey Swope
Meteorologist Jed Castles
Meteorologist Cassie Heiter
Meteorologist Justin Rudicel
Meteorologist Andrew Adams
In a bizarre incident, Oklahoma Highway Patrol “spotted” a UFO on the road and pulled it over for a picture. Ryan Vanvleck, an officer, caught a UFO-shaped vehicle for an obstructed tag. He also took a picture of the unique-looking vehicle, which was later shared on Instagram by the official Instagram handle of Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
“It’s not every day you pull over a UFO. Trooper Ryan Vanvleck #722 pulled over this vehicle on the Turner Turnpike yesterday for an obstructed tag. They were on their way to a UFO festival in Roswell, New Mexico. Trooper Vanvleck let them go with a warning,” wrote Oklahoma Highway Patrol in the post. They also shared two pictures of the vehicle. (Also Read: ‘UFO or glitch in the matrix’: Unusual light source in sky leaves people with questions)
In one of the pictures, Trooper Ryan Vanvleck clicked a selfie with the UFO vehicle. The vehicle is silver in colour and has a circular glass ceiling through which one can see two women sitting inside it.
Take a look at the post here:
This post was shared on July 3. Since being shared, it has gained close to 5,000 likes. Many people also took to the comments section of the post and shared their reactions.
Here’s how people reacted:
An individual wrote, “very funny. I bet Trooper Vanvleck will tell this story to his grandchildren. Love it.”
Another Instagram user, Stephen, posted, “Listen. Sometimes you see something really cool and would like a closer look. The people know they’re attention grabbers. And in all my years, I’ve never seen one person upset that they got pulled over.” (Also Read: Harvard expert debunks alien, UFO sightings, says ‘they wouldn’t survive’)
“Outta this world! Super cool car!” commented a third.
Instagram user Brandon Sellers joked, “The agents from Area 51 are on the way as we speak.”
“Missouri State Police pulled them over yesterday or the day before for the same thing, I read the trooper recommended they not use the stingray option during this trip! He also issued a warning! Pretty neat car!” added a fifth.
ARDMORE, Oklahoma (KXII) – While fireworks, family and friends may be the focus of the Fourth of July — creating a plan to get home safe deserves just as much attention.
To help ensure everyone gets home safe, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) will set up sobriety checkpoints along major roadways in Oklahoma on the Fourth of July.
“There are gonna be some checkpoints, I know in Mayes County and some of the other counties, law enforcement are planning to have sobriety checkpoints set up there,” OHP Trooper and Impaired Driving Liaison Mike Shanholtzer said.
These checkpoints are a part of the Oklahoma ENDUI program created by then-Governor Mary Fallin in 2013.
The ENDUI program utilizes community education, officer training, and increased patrols on the nights surrounding major holidays to reduce the number of accidents involving drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Shanholtzer said, if you’re planning to drink and head home, calling a sober friend or a rideshare service is a must.
“Have things lined up,” he said. “Don’t get a position where, ‘oh no, I’ve had a couple beers and I don’t feel like I should drive but I’m gonna try and make it home,’ that’s not what we want.”
However, Shanholtzer said no matter what your plans are, it’s important to pay extra attention while on the roads this weekend.
“Be more attentive, realize there’s going to be a lot of traffic, that we have people that are going to use drugs or alcohol, people that aren’t paying attention,” he said. “If you are hyper vigilant and paying attention, you may be able to avoid a crash even if it’s someone else’s actions that could have caused it.”
Copyright 2024 KXII. All rights reserved.
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