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Rev. Al Sharpton to return for Wednesday prayer rally

The Rev. Al Sharpton will return to Tulsa on Wednesday for a rally in support of Terence Crutcher.

Sharpton confirmed through his Twitter account that he will be attending the Citywide Prayer and Call for Justice from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The event will be held at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, 5 S. Boston Ave.

Also expected to attend are Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Crutchers family; Tiffany Crutcher, Terence Crutchers sister; and Etan Thomas, a former Booker T. Washington and NBA basketball player. A flier for the event, which is organized by the Justice4Crutch movement, asks attendees to bring their own signs.

This will be Sharptons second trip to Tulsa since Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby fatally shot an unarmed Crutcher outside his vehicle in September. The reverend first appeared at a National Prayer Call for Justice rally in Tulsa on Sept. 26. He spoke to protesters before leading them on a march from the Greenwood Cultural Center to City Hall in downtown.

Mareo Johnson, pastor at Seeking the Kingdom Ministries in north Tulsa, and a few others representing the local Black Lives Matter movement attended the first day of the Shelby trial. Johnson said he plans to be present as much as he can.

We are here saying that justice should be served, and we believe that justice will be served, he said. Were the voice and eyes for the community, as well.

Johnson has been involved in several rallies and protests since September, including one that occurred outside the courthouse less than a week after Crutcher was fatally shot by Shelby.

All lives should matter, but if black lives mattered, if all lives truly mattered, we wouldnt be here today, he said. An unarmed man wouldnt have been shot dead in the street like a dog if all lives mattered.

A few people wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts were told Monday to turn their shirts inside-out if they wanted to enter the courtroom.

Shelbys attorneys have asked District Judge Doug Drummond to bar people from either side from wearing attire that calls attention to which side they support, as it could improperly influence the jury.

As of April 28, Drummond took the request under advisement and gave his approval Monday.

Black Lives Matter activist Monroe Padillow said he chose to wear the shirt as a way to represent his community and to make the movements presence known to those observing the trial.

Although he questions whether having to turn his shirt inside-out violates his First Amendment rights, Padillow said the request is not worth pressing.

It doesnt bother me, he said. At the end of the day, our presence is known. Our presence is here. Thats whats important to us. Regardless of what were wearing, were still here for the community, and that point is still being made.

There were a lack of demonstrations or protesters outside the courthouse on day one.

Tulsa County Undersheriff George Brown said Sheriffs Office officials assessed the agencys scheduling and increased its presence of uniformed deputies and some plainclothes deputies in and around the courthouse for the duration of the trial.

Were just business as usual, and its our job to secure the courthouse, and were doing that, Brown said.

Because of apparent space constraints, reporters were not allowed in Drummonds fourth-floor courtroom to observe as jurors were sworn-in and received questionnaires. Typically, that process is open to the public.

Among other procedure changes, the area designated for news cameras was adjusted. Tulsa County sheriffs deputies placed blue tape with the words CAMERA LINE in capital letters about 20 feet away from the normal press area. After concerns were expressed about the arrangement, about a half-hour later two deputies removed the barrier and put new blue tape about 10 feet closer to the standard press line.

Authorities also have closed Fifth Street between the courthouse and the Tulsa City-County Library until the trial concludes.

kyle.hinchey @tulsaworld.com

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The Rev. Al Sharpton returning to Tulsa for prayer rally during Betty Shelby trial - Tulsa World