city and the state who we feel are responsible for the massacre. we feel this is our final chance to get restitution and repair from the city of tulsa. reporter: the question of restoration has been the question of conversation and tension as black lawmakers press for reparations. that s why we re staying out here today, reparations now for those survivors, for the descendants, and also, rebuild black wall street. reporter: but tulsa s mayor, g.t. bynum, say payments to survivors would divide the city. he declined to speak to nbc news. in solidarity with survivors, john legend and stacey abrams backed out of a ceremony. what do you think is the overriding emotion of this weekend. for the mayor and others, i think that they are hoping that this will wash over quickly and then it s back to regular business for them. for myself, for my community, i feel like it s the sunshine coming in. and you know, shining light on
then also rebuild black wall street. reporter: but tulsa s mayor, g.t. bynum, says payments to survivors would divide the city. he declined to speak to nbc news. in solidarity with survivors john legend and stacey abrams backed out of a ceremony initially scheduled for today. what do you think is the overriding emotion of this weekend? for the mayor and maybe others i think that they are hoping that this will wash over quickly and then it s back to regular business for them. for myself, for my community i feel like it s the sunshine coming in. and you know, shining light on 100 years of oppression and generational trauma. reporter: and do you feel like you re still carrying it on your shoulders today oh, without a doubt. reporter: damian rozelle s family lost their grocery store in the massacre he believes black tulsans best hope is to lean on each other for support. a lot of the emphasis this weekend is on the destruction that took place and not really the rebuilding and
says payments to survivors would divide the city. he declined to speak to nbc news. in solidarity with survivors, john legend and stacey abrams backed out of the ceremony. what do you think is the overriding emotion of this weekend? for the mayor, and maybe others, i think, that they are hoping that this will wash over, quickly. and then, it s back to regular business, for them. for myself, for my community, i feel like it s the sunshine coming in. and, you know, shining light on 100 years of oppression and generational trauma. and you feel like you are still carrying it today? oh, without a doubt. reporter: damien s family lost their grocery store in the massacre. he believes black tulsans best hope is to lean on each other for support. we are not rebuilding. so holding my granddaughter right here, it s about the future, not so much about the past. reporter: and rebuild black wall street together, against all odds just as they did in