George Floyd protests in Oklahoma

Last updated

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.

Contents

Locations

Ardmore

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

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

Broken Arrow

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

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

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

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

Muskogee

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

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

Oklahoma City

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

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

Tulsa

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. [lower-alpha 1] [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

  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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Washington (state)</span> Civil unrest in Washington state following the murder of George Floyd

This is a list of protests over the murder of George Floyd that took place in the state of Washington in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Ohio</span> 2020 civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd

Beginning on May 28, 2020, a number of cities in Ohio saw protests against the murder of George Floyd. Major cities such as Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Dayton had large protests, and numerous smaller cities and towns saw demonstrations as well. As a result of rioting and looting, a number of cities such as Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati and Springfield imposed curfews of varying times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Virginia</span> Protests in Virginia caused by the murder of George Floyd

This is a list of George Floyd protests in Virginia. Following the murder of George Floyd by a police officer, protests spread from Minneapolis to other parts of the United States, including Virginia. Protests broke out in Richmond on the night of May 28 and spread to over 50 other cities over the following days.

This is a list of protests in New York following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

This is a list of George Floyd protests in Alabama, United States. Protests occurred in fourteen various communities in the state.

This is a list of George Floyd protests in Arizona, United States. Protests occurred in at least nineteen communities in the state, with protests continuing for five weeks in Phoenix.

This is a list of George Floyd protests in Arkansas, United States. Through July 2020, protests occurred in at least thirteen various communities in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Idaho</span> 2020 civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd

This is a list of George Floyd protests in Idaho, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Indiana</span> Protests in Indiana caused by the murder of George Floyd

This is a list of George Floyd protests in Indiana, United States. As of July 2020, protests had occurred in at least 25 communities throughout the state.

There were a series of George Floyd protests in Illinois. Demonstrations and protests were held in at least 30 communities around the state, with major demonstrations happening in Chicago. The vast majority of demonstrations were peaceful, though there were several instances of property damage or violence attributed to demonstrators or counter-protestors, the worst of which occurred in Aurora. In some cities, curfews were issued or orders released advising residents to avoid the areas in which protests were taking place.

This is a list of protests brought on by the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd in Kentucky, United States. In 2020, there were protests throughout Kentucky in reaction to the shooting of Breonna Taylor and murder of George Floyd by police, as well as the shooting of David McAtee by the Kentucky Army National Guard. The demonstrations happened regularly in the largest cities in Kentucky, including Louisville and Lexington. Many of the smaller cities had protests on at least one day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Maine</span> 2020 civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd

This is a list of George Floyd protests in the U.S. state of Maine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Michigan</span> Protests in Michigan caused by the murder of George Floyd

This is a list of protests that took place in Michigan in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.

This is a list of protests related to the murder of George Floyd in Nevada, United States.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Pennsylvania</span> 2020 civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd

This is a list of protests that took place in Pennsylvania in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.

This is a list of protests in the U.S. State of Wyoming related to the murder of George Floyd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Georgia</span> 2020 civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd

A series of George Floyd protests took place in Georgia, United States, following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. 11 consecutive days of protests and rallies occurred in Atlanta through June 8, 2020. Through July 2020, protests occurred in twenty various cities and communities in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Floyd protests in Tennessee</span> 2020 civil unrest after the murder of George Floyd

The murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, triggered a wave of protests throughout Tennessee in late May and early June 2020. These protests continued throughout the year.

References

  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. 1 2 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 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. 1 2 O.K. Legis. Assemb. H.B. 1674. Reg. Sess. (2021). Legislative website.