Tulsa Race Massacre Survivors Cast Historic Votes for Kamala Harris at Age 110 and 109

 

Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, made history once again by casting her ballot in Oklahoma’s 2024 presidential election at the age of 110. Fletcher, who was just seven years old when a white mob destroyed Tulsa’s “Black Wall Street,” voted for Vice President Kamala Harris, as she had previously pledged. A photo shared on social media showed Fletcher wearing an “I Voted” sticker, marking her participation in a pivotal moment of the election.

In 1921, Fletcher witnessed the horrific events that led to the deaths of an estimated 300 African Americans, the burning and looting of over 1,200 businesses, homes, and churches, and the displacement of thousands from the once-thriving Greenwood district. Decades later, Fletcher has become a powerful voice in the fight for reparations and justice for the victims of the massacre.

Fletcher and other survivors testified before Congress in 2021, one hundred years after the tragedy, to support a lawsuit aimed at securing reparations for the survivors and their families. The lawsuit argued that the massacre’s aftermath led to long-lasting racial and economic disparities in Tulsa and that the city and insurance companies had never compensated the victims for their losses. However, in 2023, an Oklahoma judge dismissed the lawsuit, denying the survivors legal justice for the massacre.

In addition to her activism, Fletcher released a memoir titled Don’t Let Them Bury My Story in 2023, where she reflects on the personal toll the massacre took on her life and calls for continued advocacy for racial justice.

Another survivor, Lessie Benningfield Randle, also participated in the election, casting her vote at 109 years old. In an interview with Essence, Randle expressed her gratitude for being able to vote for Kamala Harris, stating that if this is her last ballot, it would be one of deep significance. She emphasized the importance of ensuring a better future for her grandchildren, one where healthcare is affordable, and the financial burdens on families are lifted. Randle also spoke passionately about the need for a president who values history and education over those who attempt to erase it.

Both Fletcher and Randle’s participation in this election serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of the survivors of the Tulsa race massacre and their ongoing fight for justice. Their votes symbolize not only their personal histories but also the continued struggle for racial equality in America.