Hank Johnson: “100 years ago this month, hundreds of Black men, women, and children were brutally terrorized, brutalized, and murdered…”

“100 years ago this month, hundreds of Black men, women, and children were brutally terrorized, brutalized, and murdered in a massacre in the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their homes, businesses, and churches were burned to the ground. Their land was stolen from them. The thousands of survivors were locked down and deprived of their liberty without charges. As the 100-year anniversary of the Greenwood massacre approaches, it is important that we bring a focus to and examine this piece of history that has been swept under the rug lest we be bound to repeat it. If the events of January 6 showed us anything, it is that we are so close to repeating history. That is why I stand today in full support of passing H. Res. 398, a resolution offered by my good friend, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, that commemorates in the Congressional Record for posterity the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. This resolution serves as a reminder that Black people in America to this day continue to fight to end racist violence perpetrated against Black people in America. H. Res. 398 also heralds a Congressional Black Caucus initiative that CBC chair Joyce Beatty entrusted to my friend, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence and I to co-chair; that is, a commemorative virtual event which will commemorate and examine this horrific massacre.…”