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One town destroyed. 300 killed. 79 years fighting for justice.
On May 31 and June 1, 1921, white mobs, with the assistance of the police and National Guard, laid siege to the segregated Tulsa neighborhood of Greenwood, known as the “Black Wall Street” of America (see slideshow). After 18 hours of attack, by land and air, there were an estimated 300 dead and 10,000 homeless – and over 1,000 homes and virtually all other buildings were left in ashes. In 2004, 151 elderly survivors sought to have their day in court – only to be told that the statute of limitations for any claims had expired.

After the U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal in 2005, in 2009, Congress introduced a bill to extend the statute of limitations so that the survivors could, at last, seek and achieve justice.

Only 51 survivors are still with us today. The documentary Before They Die! chronicles their ongoing road to reparations. This is their journey…and our call to action.

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