Researchers find possible mass grave site from 1920’s race riot

Otis Clark 103, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa race riots, waves while being introduced during an event at the Tulsa Historical Society as part of the state's ramp-up celebration to its 100th birthday next year in Tulsa, Okla., Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006. The event was one of many to kick-off Oklahoma's centennial. (AP Photo/Brandi Simons)

Researchers think they’ve found a mass grave site from a 1920’s race riot.

Experts at the University of Oklahoma found two sites at a local cemetery that might have bodies of those killed from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

According to NBC News, researchers are unsure of how many bodies are in the graves.
They identified two sites using geophysical scanning at Oaklawn Cemetery.

The Tulsa Race Massacre, also known as the Tulsa Race Riots, happened in May 1921 when Dick Rowland, a black teenager, was falsely accused of sexually assaulting a white woman.

After Rowland was arrested, a white mob demanded the sheriff turn him over to them while a black mob tried to protect Rowland.

White rioters retaliated by burning down black businesses in what was known as the Black Wall Street district.

Now that researchers believe they have found these sites, what happens next might not be determined for at least a few months.

The public oversight committee is scheduled to meet in February.

According to NBC News, if the city decides to excavate, permits will need to be approved.

Researchers are working with another cemetery to get permission to scan the grounds for more possible mass grave sites.