Tulsa Race Riot Survivor Hazel Jones Passes
While not the last living survivor Hazel Jones, 99, was the last living Tulsa survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot and her passing is a sad reminder of the worst riot in the history of this country. For reasons of her own, Jones for most of her life said little about the Tulsa Race Riot. What she did do is live a life well lived. A loving matriarch to her huge family, she was a loving source of pride to her family and the fraternity of those who survived the riot.
She was just 2 years old when white men came and took her family to the fairgrounds. Her recollections were filled with burning buildings and screams of families trying to get away from the violence. The KKK influence did not escape Jones’ young eyes as she remembered seeing a burning cross on her way to the fairgrounds. Her memory of those days remind us Tulsa was a dangerous place to live.
Jones lived near historic Black Wall Street which was razed in racist fury. Her family are not silent witnesses to the racial woes that still afflict this country and city. The Hazel Jones family are committed to healing racial wounds and confronting bigotry. They realize it’s a tall order but in memory of Hazel Jones they are moving on in her honor.
Legislator Makes Disrespectful Comment On Rosa Parks On Gun Bill
Leave it to the Oklahoma legislature to show racial insensitivity in the state capitol still exists. Up for discussion was a “Stand Your Ground” bill which would allow parishioners to shoot those trying to harm church-goers with deadly force free of legal liability. Makes one wonder what state lawmakers were doing instead of passing an education bill. In this case supporters of the bill used this opportunity to make an ill-advised crack about civil riots icon Rosa Parks. As the discussion continued on what constitutes a house of worship and the wisdom of waiving criminal liability for those who shoot at intruders but kill innocent by-standers, the author of the bill used some questionable language in response. Rep. Greg Babinec (R-Cushing) said “let’s talk about need, ladies and gentlemen, Madam Speaker, did Rosa Parks have a need to ride in the front of the bus? In a free country, you do not have a prove [sic], a need to exercise your God-given right.” Criticism was swift, African American law-makers said likening Park’s life devoted to faith and belief to make an argument about justifying potential violence in Oklahoma churches is unacceptable and irresponsible. In the very least it was an odd and weak response and difficult to see what Babinec was trying to say. The quote is exactly what he said complete with grammatical errors.
Again, perhaps instead of proposing laws which suppose the answer to gun violence is more guns, the legislature can pass laws that actually help this state.
Criminal Justice Reform Could Well Address Problems Instead Of Inflaming It
To be sure, Oklahoma prisons are jam packed full of citizens who are not violent and are sicker than they are criminal. Sick meaning addicted to substances. Sick because addiction treatment follows the disease model in that it has a cause and effect. Granted, drug and alcohol abusers break laws in possessing illegal drugs or have been caught drinking while intoxicated. Instead of punishing these sick citizens the state is going to try and treat them for the core issue of addiction.
This is in keeping with the reforms passed two years ago and implemented last summer. The state isn’t done and hopefully the state continues to reduce the runaway incarceration rate in Oklahoma. Oklahoma still rates as the number 2 state in imprisoning its citizens. Experts say if left unchecked the state will increase by 25 percent. The state cannot sustain that amount of growth and to be honest the state cannot afford to imprison 27,000 Oklahomans at $75 per day. Treatment costs much less and lessens the likelihood of relapse and recidivism. Governor Mary Fallin has rolled out a series of bills meant to further reform laws that would drive down the number of people sent to prison. The Oklahoma Eagle supports this noble and humane effort to move forward in addressing criminal justice reform. Basically there are way too many non-violent offenders in prison who would best be served by rehabilitative approaches and not making matters worse for them and the state.
If all these reforms pass which are similar to what Texas has passed in the last decade the outcome could be transformative for Oklahoma. Texas saw their crime rate go down by 31 percent. Which meant the incarceration rate went down dramatically. Texas is not weak on violent crime, the Lone Star State still executes prisoners in numbers greater than Oklahoma. So great was the reduction in incarceration that Texas closed down 8 state prisons. That’s a reality Oklahoma should fight to achieve for the good of all.
Justice For Families Mistreated By Law Enforcement Comes In Settlements
The reality of law enforcement in Oklahoma being legally challenged in the courts used to be rare and uphill. The times may be changing as two cases involving wrongs by law enforcement against African American men were financially settled.
Tulsa County has settled the Eric Harris lawsuit for $6 million in Federal Court. Harris was shot and killed by Tulsa County Reserve Deputy Robert Bates three years ago. Bates served just over a year of a 4 year sentence for manslaughter. There were others in Tulsa County who were named in the lawsuit but it was dismissed with prejudice and cannot be refiled. The settlement is huge by any measure. Hopefully the family is able to find some measure of relief after the tragic death of Eric Harris.
In Oklahoma City, Victor Gaines has been trying to find some measure of justice after he spent 9 months in prison after Oklahoma City Police Detective Keith Medley presented false evidence against Gaines. Federal courts dismissed charges against Gaines for the miscarriage of justice. He was rightly angry.
Gaines sued Medley and the city of Oklahoma City for having his rights violated. The original arrest occurred in 2015 and he was released in 2016. His suit was filed in 2017. Last week the City Council of Oklahoma City settled their part of the lawsuit by giving Gaines $18,000. That isn’t much compared to how much he suffered being in prison. Gaines wants to make sure Medley never violates the rights of another citizen. Hopefully, this does the trick.
