Grandson of Tulsa massacre survivor who fought back shares story as DOJ reviews

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GREENWOOD, Okla.–As one of the descendants recently interviewed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Michael Eugene Penny still remembers his grandfather vividly telling him the story of how he survived and fought to protect his family during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Penny’s grandfather, Jurel O. Penny, was one of many Black World War 1 veterans in Greenwood on May 31, 1921 who went down to the Tulsa County Courthouse to defend teenage Dick Rowland from a racist lynch mob.

“He was with the group that went down to the courthouse originally. When they were told to disperse, he left to go see about his family. Everything broke out and he sent his family down what was then the Midland Valley Track,” Michael Penny told the Black Wall Street Times inside Tulsa’s The Root Coworking space.

DOJ touches down in Tulsa

Penny shared his story with this reporter moments after Justice for Greenwood Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons, who represents survivors and descendants, had just wrapped up a press conference Thursday.

Joined by fellow Justice for Greenwood attorney Eric Miller and Texas Democratic Congressman Al Green (TX-9th), Solomon-Simmons gave reporters an update into the Department of Justice’s historic decision to review the massacre.

Two weeks ago, the DOJ announced it was conducting the first-ever federal probe into the Tulsa Race Massacre using the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act.

“For the first time in 103 years, the United States Department of Justice came to Tulsa in relation to the Tulsa Race Massacre,” attorney Solomon-Simmons told reporters Thursday afternoon. “And over the last 48 hours, they’ve had the opportunity to meet with survivors and what we call first-generation descendants.”

• Related Story: DOJ opens first ever federal probe into Tulsa Race Massacre

Surviving a massacre and fighting back

As a descendant, Michael Penny was one of the individuals interviewed by the DOJ over the last few days. Attorney Solomon-Simmons hopes the review, which will conclude with a report by Dec. 31, 2024, will lead to federal action, justice and accountability.

Meanwhile, as the press conference ended and reporters began exiting the room, Michael Penny simply wanted the story of his grandfather to be part of America’s national story.

“He came back with his weapons, and he defended the line along the Midland Valley tracks so that the rioters, or whatever you want to call them–terrorists—couldn’t come over into the Lansing area or the Greenwood District separated by the railway track,” Penny told the Black Wall Street Times.

“He ran out of ammunition, and with no bullets or anything, he ran down the tracks trying to catch up with his family, and he was captured around 36 Street North in Tulsa.”

• Related Story: OK Supreme Court closes door on survivors. Will Biden reopen it?

An American story

Penny’s grandfather’s story of survival matches with accounts from the Tulsa Historical Society. According to historians, Black men who served their country overseas were forced to defend their community at home from racial terror after the city deputized thousands of white Tulsans to travel across the Frisco train tracks into the Historic Greenwood District, home to the original Black Wall Street.

As many as 300 Black men, women and children were massacred in an attack that went into the early hours of June 1, 1921. When the dust cleared, over 1,200 homes and over 200 businesses were turned to ash from the bombs and bullets raining down on them. Tens of thousands of Black residents fled from their communities and thousands were interned in camps across the city.

“The men were put in the freight yard. The women were put in another area of the freight yard, and you were only released when some white person came and vouched for you,” Penny said.

• Related Story: Family honors Tulsa Massacre survivor who never saw justice

DOJ opens probe into 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre

As part of their review, the federal Dept. of Justice is seeking more evidence and testimony from as many different kinds of people as possible, ahead of the release of a report by the end of the year.

With just weeks before President Biden leaves office, Attorney Solomon-Simmons has urged people with information or testimony to email doj@justiceforgreenwood.org.

Hi co-counsel, attorney Eric Miller, went a step further and called on white Tulsans with information on their ancestors to step forward to help the review move forward.

“To the white community of Tulsa, we know there’s stories, diaries, pictures, memorabilia, that’s out there, that has yet to be brought to the light of day. So, we encourage you to do that,” attorney Miller said.

• Related Story: Tulsa Massacre survivor Hughes Van Ellis passes away at 102

What’s Next for DOJ Review of Tulsa Massacre?

While the DOJ continues its inquiry, the city has begun to move forward with a trimmed down version of proposals for repair as part of Tulsa’s newly created Reparations Commission.

Republican Mayor G.T. Bynum, who has vocally opposed reparations in the form of cash payments, signed an order creating the new board.

“Reparations, unfortunately, is such a loaded term here in the United States in the 21st century. And a lot of people hear that, and they immediately think, well, ‘people just want checks written to them. I’m against it,'” Bynum stated.

“But what we found in that public analysis was that a lot of folks actually want to talk about scholarship opportunities for the descendants of victims, or economic development opportunities for the descendants of victims or housing opportunities, or access to housing opportunities for the descendants of victims,” Bynum said.

Meanwhile, the Tulsa County District Court and Oklahoma Supreme court both rejected a lawsuit brought by massacre survivors, 110-year-old “mother” Viola Ford Fletcher and 109-year-old “mother” Lessie Benningfield Randle.

Attorneys for the survivors and descendants continue to push for reparations and accountability. No person or government entity has ever been held liable for the city-sanctioned attack.

Congressman Al Green pushes for cash payments

As the DOJ continues to conduct its review of the Tulsa Race Massacre, others are taking action.

For his part, Texas Congressman Al Green isn’t shy about demanding reparations in the form of cash payments. Instead of waiting on a more convenient season, as Rev. Dr. King Jr. once wrote, Congressman Green announced he’s filing bills that will address repair directly.

He plans to file a bill for $20 million for Fletcher, a bill for $20 million for Randle, and a bill to address justice for the community of Greenwood.

“Quite frankly, I don’t think it’s enough. I don’t know that we can ever pay them enough for what they’ve suffered over the years,” Congressman Green said.

“I know that if the Congress of the United States of the America decides to do this, it can be done. This is not about the way to do it, it’s more about the will to do it,” he said.

Flag will fly over U.S. Capitol for survivor’s 110th b-day

Notably, Oklahoma’s members of Congress, all Republicans, have remained silent on the issue of providing justice for survivors and descendants. The Black Wall Street Times asked Congressman Green about his message to Oklahoma’s Congressional Delegation.

“I hope that they’ll sign onto it,” Congressman Green responded. “Ms. Randle is going to be celebrating her 110th birthday next month. I have already instructed my staff to fly a flag over the capitol of the United States of America to honor her. She’s been fighting all of her life for this, and I believe this is the least that we can do.”

Ultimately, Michael Penny hopes the world will remember his grandfather’s story and the story of those who were never able to receive justice.

“The people, the white people, who perpetrated the crimes, were still in charge of the city and government and everything else,” Penny told the Black Wall St. Times. “So, you can’t go to the police and say, ‘save me from the police’. So, these people lived in fear basically the rest of their lives, because the people who did this were also still alive.”