Tulsa Race Riot Measure Clears Legislature Unopposed

OKLAHOMA CITY (25 April 2017) — Legislation that would create a special fund for commemoration of the Tulsa Race Riot has cleared the Legislature with no opposition, and will be sent to the Governor.

Senate Bill 17 was endorsed unanimously Tuesday by the Oklahoma House of Representatives, 81-0.  The bill previously passed the Senate, 39-0. Authors of the measure were Rep.

Monroe Nichols and Sen. Kevin Matthews, both Tulsa Democrats.

When SB 17 was brought to the House floor for consideration Tuesday, Nichols explained that the bill would create a Tulsa Race Riot Centennial Memorial Revolving Fund for use by the state Historical Society to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1921 race riot.

During the uprising, a white mob nearly destroyed the entire 35-block Greenwood District, a thriving sector of north Tulsa. The American Red Cross reported that 300 people died in the riot and more than 800 others were hospitalized.