TULSA - Community leaders and pastors from Tulsa held a press conference Friday and discussed the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office’s decision to charge Officer Betty Shelby with first degree manslaughter.
The gathering was held the day after the Tulsa County District Attorney's office announced that Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby will face first degree manslaughter charges in the fatal shooting of unarmed Crutcher.
Religious leaders from Tulsa, and as far away as Oklahoma City, gathered to share their message. More than 20 pastors, most from north Tulsa came to deliver the message.
They are sharing their empathy for the Crutcher family while calling on the Tulsa police to make positive changes and improve how officers interact with black citizens. They are glad Officer Betty Shelby is facing charges, but they want bigger change to come from this tragedy.
“However we are convinced that the current culture of policing foster bias against black people in general and black males in particular,” said W.C. Potts with Antioch Baptist Church.
The pastors say community policing will help improve the situation.
But at Tee’s Barber Shop in Greenwood, some aren’t so sure having officer interact with minorities more often will solve the mistrust problem.
"I don't think that will work because everybody don’t want to communicate with the police,” said barber Michael Helms.
Several pastors in the Tulsa community gathered to give a statement saying “Black ministers are united in their support for the Crutcher family and their quest for justice for Terence Crutcher. We are prepared to stand with them throughout this process of mourning and struggle. We are hopeful that justice will prevail, particularly in light of the way that city leaders have acted expeditiously and in an attempt for transparency,” said Antioch Baptist Church Pastor Parlor. “We believe our actions have helped us to minimize the negative impact that an already tragic event have caused, however, we are deeply concerned about the culture of policing community of color. We are convinced that the current culture of policing fosters bias against black people in general and black males in particular.”
Throughout the news conference, the pastors went on to say that they will continue to push that policies and procedures need to change for a situation like this to not happen again.
The religious leaders said that while the shooting took place in Tulsa affected the community, other shootings around the nation were already affecting the community as well.
“If it happens in one place, it impacts the heart of another place.”
The peaceful protests were praised by the Tulsa religious leaders saying that they were thankful that peace prevailed and that they will continue to pray for peace, as well as justice.
“This is a nationwide issue and we have an opportunity to have an impact beyond our city limits.”
