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George Floyd protests in Oklahoma

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George Floyd protests in Oklahoma
Part of George Floyd protests
DateMay 30 – June 12, 2020
(1 week and 6 days)
Location
Oklahoma, United States
Caused by

This is a list of protests in Oklahoma related to the murder of George Floyd.

Locations

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Ardmore

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On May 31, approximately 150 people peacefully marched from the HFV Wilson Community Center through the streets of downtown Ardmore and back to protest the murder of George Floyd, shouting "I can't breathe" and "no justice, no peace."[3]

Bartlesville

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On June 5, hundreds of protesters marched through downtown Bartlesville to protest the murder of George Floyd.[4]

Broken Arrow

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On June 6, around 1,000 demonstrators marched from Central Park down Main Street and back to support Black Lives Matter and George Floyd. Before marching from Central Park, they held a moment of silence for eight minutes and forty-six seconds to honor Floyd's memory.[5]

Edmond

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On June 6, a crowd of peaceful protesters demonstrated in front of the Edmond Police Department and marched through the streets to protest the murder of George Floyd. They also protested the death of teenager Isaiah Lewis, who had been killed by Edmond police officers a year prior.[6]

Enid

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A few dozen protesters peacefully demonstrated on Tuesday, June 2, by marching to the courthouse square at noon, chanting and waving signs for about an hour. Before the protesters dispersed, a city councilman appeared and invited them to attend that evening's city council meeting and speak during the public comment time.[7]

Lawton

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One thousand people gathered and then marched around Lawton City Hall on May 31.[8]

Muskogee

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On May 31, over a dozen people protested outside a Walmart and walked back and forth on the Shawnee Bypass in support of Black Lives Matter and George Floyd.[9]

Norman

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Hundreds of protesters gathered in Norman on June 1, 2020, for a peaceful protest.[10]

Oklahoma City

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On May 30, protesters gathered at Northwest 23rd Street and Classen Boulevard around 7:30 p.m. for a peaceful protest. However, the protest soon grew violent as reports of vandalism and looting were made, and police employed tear gas at least three times and arrested 13 people.[11] On May 31, another violent protest was held outside the police department where a Trump 2020 flag was burned. Mayor David Holt set a 10:00 p.m. curfew, and at least 25 more arrests were made. Black Lives Matter, who had organized protests that afternoon at the Oklahoma State Capitol, denied any involvement in the evening riots.[12] The local BLM chapter followed up with a list of demands toward city leaders, which included an apology from Holt and the resignation of the local police chief.[13]

On June 6, protesters in the Bricktown district marched to Harkins Theatres chanting "I can't breathe" and "Black Lives Matter".[14] On June 12, hundreds more protesters marched from Harkins Theatres to the Oklahoma City Police Department's headquarters, where they confronted officers about the deaths of unarmed black Americans at the hands of police.[15]

Stillwater

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On June 3, 2020, several hundred protested peacefully with speakers and signs in front of the police station.[16]

Tulsa

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On Saturday, May 30, hundreds of people protested peacefully on a six-mile march through midtown.[17] One protester was hit by a vehicle when the protest moved onto Interstate 44, briefly shutting it down.[17] Protests continued on May 31, when thousands gathered in the Greenwood District, the site of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, to demand police accountability and reform.[18] In the evening, police officers blocked protesters from walking down Peoria Avenue and used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Reports of vandalism were made as rocks were thrown at cars and shop windows were broken. Three people were arrested.[19]

A pickup truck towing a horse trailer drove through a crowd of Black Lives Matter protestors on I-244 in May, seriously injuring three.[20] The Tulsa County District Attorney's Office declined to press criminal charges against the driver, citing the truck's occupants' "immediate fear for their safety".[21] In response to the incident, House Bill 1674 was introduced into the Oklahoma Legislature in February 2021, which makes illegal obstruction of roads a misdemeanor and grants civil and criminal immunity to motorists who unintentionally harm someone while fleeing a riot.[a][23] The bill passed the House in March and the Senate in April, and was signed into law by governor Kevin Stitt in April.[23] The bill took effect in November 2021.[21]

Notes

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  1. ^ The bill refers to a riot as defined in Oklahoma Statute §21-1311, which states: "Any use of force or violence, or any threat to use force or violence if accompained [sic] by immediate power of execution, by three or more persons acting together and without authority of law, is riot."[22]

References

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  1. ^ Robertson, Nicky (May 30, 2020). "US surgeon general says "there is no easy prescription to heal our nation"". CNN. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Goldberg, Michelle (May 29, 2020). "Opinion - America Is a Tinderbox". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  3. ^ Smith, Michael (June 1, 2020). "Floyd death prompts solidarity march in Ardmore". The Ardmoreite. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  4. ^ Weaver, Kristen (June 5, 2020). "Hundreds March In Bartlesville To Protest After Death Of George Floyd". KOTV-DT. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  5. ^ Jones, Corey (June 7, 2020). "Broken Arrow peaceful protest against police brutality, racism addresses issues from why Black Lives Matter to empathy and white privilege". Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "Edmond protesters recall Isaiah Lewis' death". The Oklahoman. June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  7. ^ Turner, Jeff (June 2, 2020). "Protesters march in downtown Enid in reaction to George Floyd's death". Enid News & Eagle. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  8. ^ Rains, Scott (June 2, 2020). "Peace rally calls for systemic change and community action for a better nation". The Lawton Constitution. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  9. ^ Spaulding, Cathy (May 31, 2020). "Demonstrators chant and carry signs in 'Black Lives Matter' gatherings". Muskogee Phoenix. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  10. ^ Bruno, Jessica (June 2, 2020). "OK protests continue Monday as demonstrations head to Norman". KFOR. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  11. ^ "Law enforcement vehicle burned, tear gas deployed as protest intensifies in Oklahoma City". KOCO-TV. June 1, 2020.
  12. ^ "Overnight curfew issued for part of downtown OKC after protests intensify". KOCO-TV. June 1, 2020.
  13. ^ ""We're gonna do better, and black lives do matter," Oklahoma City police chief releases video following protests". KFOR-TV. June 3, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  14. ^ Martin, Brandon (June 6, 2020). "We Can't Breathe rally converges upon Bricktown". KOKH-TV. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  15. ^ "Protesters gather in downtown OKC to march against police brutality". KOCO-TV. June 12, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  16. ^ Elmquist, Jason (June 3, 2020). "PHOTO GALLERY: Stillwater's We Can't Breathe Peaceful Protest". Stillwater News Press. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Hundreds gather in Tulsa, joining nationwide protests". KTUL. May 30, 2020.
  18. ^ "Thousands in Tulsa protest the killing of black lives". The Black Wall Street Times. June 1, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  19. ^ "Protesters move through Tulsa, vandals break windows at businesses near 51st and Peoria". KJRH-TV. May 31, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  20. ^ "Proposed Legislation Would Protect Oklahoma Drivers Who Hit Protestors". Public Radio Tulsa. Associated Press. February 22, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Treisman, Rachel (April 22, 2021). "Oklahoma Law Grants Immunity To Drivers Who Unintentionally Harm Protestors". NPR. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  22. ^ Okla. Stat. tit. 21, § 1311 (2019). Justia mirror.
  23. ^ a b O.K. Legis. Assemb. H.B. 1674. Reg. Sess. (2021). Legislative website.
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