Firm News
The History of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and Today’s Groundbreaking Litigation
March 2021
On May 31, 1921, one of the worst acts of domestic terrorism in U.S. history decimated Tulsa’s thriving, all-Black community of Greenwood, and the devastating effects of this massacre are still felt to this day.
Today, a team of civil and human rights lawyers led by Damario Solomon-Simmons have filed a lawsuit seeking justice for the wrongs that continue to plague the Greenwood community. Schulte is proud to be a part of this historic litigation, identified and led by members of the Task Force for Racial Justice Initiatives, and hosted Mr. Solomon-Simmons for a firm-wide discussion on the history of the once prosperous historic community, the longstanding effects of the racially motivated attacks and the litigation he is leading today. The webinar was co-sponsored by the Task Force, the Pro Bono Committee and the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.
The Schulte team is led by partner, litigation co-chair and pro bono chair Michael Swartz, special counsel for pro bono initiatives Sara Solfanelli and litigation associate and Task Force for Racial Justice Initiatives co-chair McKenzie Haynes. The team also includes individual client services partner Susan Frunzi, special counsel Annie Mehlman and associates Caitlin Fitzsimons, Victoria Harris and Hannah Zale; intellectual property, sourcing & technology special counsel Scott Kareff; insurance special counsel Theodore Keyes; litigation special counsel Randall Adams and associates Angela Garcia, Ekenedilichukwu (Keni) Ukabiala and Alex Wharton and law clerk Melanie Collins; investment management special counsel Jill M. Guzzetti; real estate law clerk James Koenderman; and former Schulte lawyers Amanda Barkin, AnnaLise Bender-Brown, Abigail Coster, Brandon Faske and John Garces.
For more information on this historic litigation and Schulte’s involvement, see:
Schulte Roth & Zabel Joins Historic Tulsa Race Massacre Lawsuit
How and Why Schulte Signed on to the Public Nuisance Suit Over the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
Last Known Living Survivors Added to Historic Tulsa Race Massacre Lawsuit
