in the coming hours president joe biden will travel to tulsa, oklahoma, to commemorate the tulsa race massacre. on may 31st, 1921, a white mob attacked a thriving black community known as black wall street. as many as 300 people were killed and thousands were left homeless according to the tulsa historical society and museum. the area consisted of more than 35 city blocks of black-owned shops, hotels and theaters. many of those businesses were burned to the ground. president biden issued a proclamation on monday writing in part, i commit to the survivors of the tulsa race massacre, the descendents of victims and to this nation that we will never forget. we honor the legacy of the green wood community and of black wall street by reaffirming our
good morning. i m poppy harlow. i m jim sciutto. hours from now, president biden will leave the white house for oklahoma to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the tulsa race massacre. it is just a horrific and sadly, a long ignored chapter in this nation s history. on may 31st, 1921, a white mob descended on what was a thriving black neighborhood, greenwood, in tulsa. angry crowds went block to block. they looted. they killed. eyewitnesses reported planes, a relatively new invention at the time, took part in the attacks. attacks from the air. the destruction and devastation lasted until the next day. and the scenes afterwards just horrendous. not just homes and businesses, but schools and churches also destroyed. the very heart of that community burned to the ground. thousands were left homeless as many as 300 black americans were
i m jeff bennett coming to you live from tulsa, oklahoma. just a short time from now joe biden will be the first president to lead our nation in reckoning of what happened 100 years ago today right here where we are sitting. the tulsa race massacre had been largely and intentionally erased from the history books until recently, but not by those who survived the two days of unspeakable atrocities and lived to tell the world about the horror. that was one of the worst sights that i can ever remember. stays on my mind. has been on my mind all of these years. it was covered up and we didn t talk about it. in the early 1900s, greenwood was known as the black wall street until the evening of may 31st, 1921, when a white mob
heating up. governor greg abbott now threatening to cut off funding to state legislators. but we start with president biden set to depart from oklahoma this morning, to mark 100 years since one of the worst incidents of racial violence in united states history, which is known as the tulsa race massacre. on may 31st, 1921, a violent, white mob attacked and destroyed one of the nation s most prosperous black neighborhoods. at the time it was known as black wall street, leaving as many as 300 people dead, thousands homeless and scores of businesses completely destroyed. ahead of his trip to tulsa, the biden administration just announced new steps this morning to narrow the racial wealth gap in america, focusing specifically on small businesses and affordable housing. the president also declared monday a day of remembrance by issuing a proclamation saying this i call on the american
president biden right now is on his way to oklahoma for the 100th anniversary of the tulsa race massacre, the visit shine as presidential spotlight on a horrific moment that is too often ignored in american history lessons. back on may 31st, 1921, a white mob destroyed tulsa s greenwood district, hundreds killed, thousands left homeless across some 35 city blocks, theit s cad one of the worst racial episodes. race war rages for hours. troops and armed men patrolling streets. here s front page headlines today in tulsa, mayor apologizes for massacre and the blood is still speaking. cnn s abby philip is in tulsa, and also joining the