Matthews hosts Consulate General of Israel at Greenwood Rising

State Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, hosted Israeli Consul General to the Southwest United States Livia Link-Raviv at Greenwood Rising on Jan. 25. Phil Armstrong, Greenwood Rising interim executive director, also joined the tour.

“It was interesting to learn the similarities of oppression our people have suffered over the years,” Matthews said. “Phil was able to share the stories of not only the triumphs and prosperity that took place in the Greenwood area, but also the tragedy of the Tulsa Race Massacre and how people in the Greenwood District were marched to internment camps at the Tulsa fairgrounds.”

Matthews also serves as founder and chairman of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission.

“Our goal was to tell the story of Greenwood and the 1921 massacre in such an incredible way that people would come to Tulsa for the exhibit from all across the nation,” Matthews said. “Greenwood Rising has blown our expectations out of the water and become a destination for people across the world. It was a true honor to host Consul General Livia Link-Raviv in Tulsa and share the deep history rooted right here in our community.”

Link-Raviv has served as a 20-year career diplomat in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she is responsible for the five-state region of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas.

For more information, contact: Sen. Kevin Matthews at 405-521-5598, or email Kevin.Matthews@oksenate.gov. 

CUTLINE: Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, joins Israeli Consul General Livia Link-Raviv and Greenwood Rising interim executive director Phil Armstrong for a tour of Greenwood Rising.