TULSA, Okla. — President-elect Joe Biden called Wednesday one of America’s darkest days. He also said Black Lives Matter protesters would have had a much different experience.
“This isn’t fair. No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protesters yesterday they wouldn’t have been treated very, very differently," Biden said.
Tulsa supporters from both groups, including BLM advocates and President Trump supporters, both agree Wednesday’s events were not a proud moment for America.
“We can have differences of opinion on politics, differences of opinion on how to move our cities, states forward, but we don't have to have differences in opinion on the humanity of each and every American,” said Greg Robinson, Tulsa community leader and former mayoral candidate.
After the Capitol chaos, many wonder how the country is supposed to reunite.
“We’ve gotta start finding a way for people to come together,” said Donny Tiemann, president of the Tulsa Area Republican Assembly.
Meanwhile, Robinson also has this question: “What if those were Black Lives Matter protests that decided the way to voice their rights was to take over the Capitol?”
The death toll from the Capitol protest-turned-riot is up to four. Robinson and others believe the number would be higher, had BLM been there.
Regardless, Tulsa’s Republicans are not endorsing violence.
“It’s safe to say the Repupblican Assembly totally condemns the activity of all the violence that went on there," Tiemann said. "I think in both situations, there are people who, whether in Tulsa or other parts of the country just like Washington, D.C., that came in with the intent of causing problems.”
Tulsa’s BLM protest organizer Tykebrean Cheshier sent 2 Works for You a statement:
I felt our safety as country was compromised by the un democratic actions of extremists. Me being a black activist makes this a very rough time to be an American . Black Lives Matter protest were for justice in a country that has done more injustice. Many protest for Black Lives Matter were met with rubber bullets, pepper spray & arrest. White supremacy is alive and well in this country and yesterday’s attacks on the US Capitol showed that. Donald J Trump is a domestic terrorist to his own country & must be removed.
The Chairman of Tulsa County’s Republican Party, Bob Jack, posted a response on Facebook.
The chairman of the Oklahoma’s GOP also sent 2 Works for You a statement:
“First, I made it clear on social media yesterday that violence is NOT the answer. We have a political process that our founding forefathers put in place that needs to be upheld.
I personally will continue to move forward to work for the conservative values so many Oklahomans have and live by.
Regarding violence moving forward, so much of the violent responsibility is how journalism has been carried out these last several years. There is so much emotion on “liberal” and “conservative” media outlets that raise an emotional response from viewers on already emotionally charged issues to gain higher ratings that the real journalistic news becomes lost on statements from elected officials and candidates.
We are Americans, we have a system that works if implemented properly at the state and local level. It is up to “we the people” to do our part, stay involved at the grassroots level, get educated on the process in place and implement the ideals that is right for your community.”
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