NICHOLS HILLS (Oklahoma) — With pots, pans and wood spoons, BLM protesters took to part of the Oklahoma Metropolis metro that’s not used to listening to the sounds of protest.
About 30 protesters from throughout racial strains gathered in Nichols Hills Friday night to march via what many consider to be essentially the most safe bastion of previous wealth within the metro.
The motion was meant to intensify consciousness of the plight of others within the metropolis who’re much less lucky.
Actually because the evening wore on and protesters wound their manner via Nichols Hills neighborhoods, residents had been as a minimum yanked out of their consolation zones.
Visitors via some components of the town slowed to a crawl and strange noises solely heard on TV earlier than had been now stay out on some individuals’s streets.
Marchers carried a number of bullhorns with a siren function that was used liberally all through the night. It created a sound setting that could be a regular factor within the internal metropolis however not in a spot the place wealth retains emergencies to a minimal.
Why?
Adrianna Legal guidelines, by now a real veteran of protests within the metro, talked with Free Press simply earlier than giving her opening pep speak within the parking zone simply exterior Dealer Joes within the Nichols Hills Plaza about why the motion had been organized.
“They don’t have to fret in regards to the plight of on a regular basis, marginalized individuals,” stated Legal guidelines about residents of Nichols Hills. “They don’t should see us, you understand?”
“And so, at the moment, it’s form of to open their eyes and allow them to know white silence is violence,” she continued. “The extra that we see authorities and legislation enforcement companies attacking marginalized communities and also you don’t say something, you’re part of the issue that makes you complicit.”
Elizabeth Okeke and her daughter Laila had been current with pans and spoons in hand able to make noise and so they talked about their motives for being on the protest Friday.
“That is the epitome of the place everyone comes, they really feel protected. They get to grocery store. They stand in strains. And so they’re positive with it,” Elizabeth Okeke stated about residents of Nichols Hills. “I’m certain a few of them have some quote/unquote black associates. However even simply being right here tonight – being current – you’ll be able to see how bothered they’re by it simply by mere presence.
We counted round about 15 individuals standing across the edges of the parking zone angrily speaking on their telephones or tapping out messages.
“And the payments which have simply gotten handed [in the Oklahoma Legislature] the place we are able to’t even do that safely and never fear about getting arrested, fear about going to jail and paying 1,000s of {dollars} in fines …. So, we have now to maintain popping out as a result of they will’t scare us like that,” Elizabeth stated.
In her kick-off speech Legal guidelines appeared to sum up the reasoning for the motion we heard from quite a few individuals all through the night:
“They [Nichols Hill residents] don’t should cope with marginalized individuals,” Legal guidelines stated via a bullhorn. They don’t should cope with the problems of marginalizing. Nevertheless, among the most necessary determination makers and influencers in Oklahoma and Oklahoma County, Oklahoma Metropolis and all around the state, a few of them stay proper right here.”
Tricia Everest residence
The group chanted and banged pots and pans as they made their solution to what they stated was Tricia Everest’s residence. Everest was the chair of the Jail Belief till her resignation Friday as she took up the position of Secretary of Public Security for Oklahoma Governor Stitt.
Marchers rehearsed among the grievances they’d about Everest, the most important being the deaths within the Jail below her tenure as chair of the Jail Belief.
Joined by Second Modification protesters
A widely known Second Modification protester in Oklahoma Metropolis, Tim Harper arrived carrying a handgun and an assault rifle as was his pal Rick Hubbard.
After Harper and Hubbard reassured marchers that they weren’t there to disrupt the motion however to participate, Free Press talked with Harper about what he was doing there.
“We’re going to have a really peaceable protest,” Harper insisted. “We’re going to look at the fantastic thing about individuals exercising their First Modification rights out right here in public. We help what they’re saying – what they’re doing.”
“And we’re exercising our Second Modification rights as nicely in a metropolis that doesn’t help rights,” Harper advised us. “They don’t like us exercising our rights of their metropolis.”
Circle after which again
Marchers stopped for a second in entrance of the Oklahoma Metropolis Golf and Nation Membership on the geographic and social middle of Nichols Hills, and rehearsed their disdain for the people who find themselves members and who disregard the wants of black individuals amongst them.
The group then marched with out incident again to the Nichols Hills Plaza though shadowed by just a few the entire night.
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Final Up to date Might 1, 2023, 1:16 AM by Brett Dickerson – Editor
The publish Noise in Nichols Hills — marchers take the rattle of protest to the elites appeared first on Oklahoma Metropolis Free Press.
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