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Ahead Of Massacre Centennial, Tulsa County Democratic Party Acknowledges Racist Past

With the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre days away, the Tulsa County Democratic Party issued a statement Friday acknowledging the organization’s racist past.

That includes previous Democratic National Committee members’ and national and state elected officials’ involvement with the Ku Klux Klan and participation in the massacre.

"Our party is not perfect. We’re not. But I do stand strong in the belief that we’re willing to acknowledge prior injustices that even ourselves have been a part of because I don’t think that until we can do that we can really fully move forward," said Tulsa County Democratic Party Chair Amanda Swope.

The statement also says "substantial monetary reparations," are a requirement for true healing. 

"I wouldn't say that [stance is] new, but it's probably not something that we’ve been as vocal about in our support of before. We’re trying to work to be better about speaking out about issues that multiple communities deal with," Swope said.

The statement also says the party will amplify Black voices going forward. Swope said that will involve being more intentionally inclusive with organizing efforts.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.
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