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Tulsa race massacre survivor Hughes Van Ellis turned 102 on Wednesday, January 11, as the city of Tulsa continues to defend itself against lawsuits seeking reparations for crimes committed 100 years ago.
“Uncle Red” Hughes Van Ellis is the youngest of a trio of survivors who are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the City of Tulsa. Her two other plaintiffs include survivors “Mother” Viola Ford-Fletcher and “Mother” Lessy Benningfield Randle, who will turn 108 in 2022.
The Greenwood trial, led by civil rights attorney Damario Solomon Simmons, represents plaintiffs.
“We are dealing with the same entity that bombed Greenwood over 100 years ago. Instead of lying that they bombed Greenwood over 80 years and telling us we were wrong, people I am allowing myself to die…I want to make this right,” attorney Damario Solomon Simmons told the Black Wall Street Times shortly after the Oct. 18, 2022 court hearing.
City of Tulsa Seeks to Dismiss Lawsuit as Hughes Van Ellis Turns 102
The city of Tulsa has used Oklahoma’s pollution laws to file multiple motions to dismiss lawsuits alleging that the city was responsible for the damage caused by the 1921 race massacre.
“The judge needs to go ahead with our case. My birthday cake is sweet, but Justice’s will be sweeter,” Van Ellis said in a statement. public radio tulsa last year.
Most recently, Judge Caroline Wall allowed Judge Greenwood’s legal team to proceed with the deposition.
According to the American Bar Association, the discovery phase is the formal process of exchanging information between parties about witnesses and the evidence they present in court.
Discovery allows parties to know what evidence may be presented before a trial begins. This includes depositions. This is a statement recorded out of court under oath by the person involved in the incident.
Michael Swartz, a partner at Schulte, Roth and Zabel, said the team hopes to be able to make personal discoveries, including depositions of Governor Kevin Stitt and Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum, if necessary. said.
