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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

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TULSA, Okla. (KTUL)

Rev. Al Sharpton will be back in Tulsa tonight for a prayer rally in the midst of jury selection in the trial of officer Betty Shelby.

Sharpton will be joining attorney Ben Crump, Dr. Tiffany Crutcher and Etan Thomas at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame for a city-wide prayer and rally for justice as the trail continues. Shelby was charged with first-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Terence Crutcher in September 2016. Crutcher, a black man, was unarmed when he was killed.

Sharpton came to Tulsa less than two weeks after Crutcher was killed.

MORE | Rev. Al Sharpton to return to Tulsa as Shelby trial gets underway

Some people are writing on social media that they're worried Sharpton's appearance could lead to riots. One community activist says that's not the case.

"People have got to stop with the stigma that just because people in Ferguson rioted or because people in Baltimore rioted that we're going to riot here in Tulsa, and that's not the case," said Charity Marcus, community volunteer.

The prayer rally begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Jazz Hall of Fame.

Read more about the Terence Crutcher shooting death.

Excerpt from:
Rev. Al Sharpton returns to Tulsa Wednesday as jury selection continues in Shelby trial - KTUL

Al Sharpton visited just 11 days after Officer Shelby shot and killed Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16, 2016. (KTUL)

The trial involving Officer Betty Shelby beginning is prompting Reverend Al Sharpton to return to Tulsa. He visited just 11 days after Officer Shelby shot and killed Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16, 2016.

Related Story: Rev. Al Sharpton leads march for justice, peace through downtown Tulsa streets

The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is where Reverend Sharpton will hold a city-wide prayer and rally for justice on Wednesday. People at his last rally said to expect much of the same; a call for peace and unity.

Hundreds of people joined Sharpton for a nearly mile-long walk for justice in September.

For me, it was surprising, says Richard Baxter, founder of RacismStinks. I thought he was like a real agitator and I thought he was going to stir up a lot of feelings that were not going to end up in a positive way.

Reverend Sharpton, who has been in contact with the Crutcher family since the shooting, almost immediately scheduled a visit.

Related Story: Family asks Rev. Al Sharpton to 'help secure justice' in Terence Crutcher's death

It helped cover the wound, Baxter says of Septembers rally. It didnt help heal the wound. It was a little dab of ointment, but whats really going to heal the wound happens in the courtroom.

The courtroom is now the arena.

None of us are psychic, he says. We dont know whats going to happen.

The activist and public defender expect the coming weeks to be interesting and tense.

Were at a turning point, he says. We could go one way, which is the wrong way, or we could go another way which is the right way for unity.

And he, like Sharpton so many months ago, is calling for peace regardless of the verdict.

Sharpton is expected to be at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame Wednesday night from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

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Rev. Al Sharpton to return to Tulsa as Shelby trial gets underway - KTUL

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Rev. Al Sharpton visits Tulsa in rally for Terence Crutcher - KRMG