Sharpton, Jackson to visit Tulsa this weekend


Story Comments Share

Reported by: Adam Paluka
Updated: 4/11/2012 10:34 pm Published: 4/09/2012 3:43 pm


The Greater Union Baptist Church says Rev. Al Sharpton will speak at the church on Sunday. Rev. Jesse Jackson will speak at the First Baptist Church of North Tulsa on Saturday.

Jackson will also be in Tulsa on Friday for a noon meeting at the church on Friday.

Bishop Harold Jones of Full Gospel Family Outreach church told FOX23 earlier this week that Rev. Al Sharpton planned to visit Tulsa in the wake of the north Tulsa shootings.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of three African American victims last Friday morning in a five mile radius in north Tulsa.  Two others were injured in the shooting spree.

Alvin Watts, 33 and Jake England, 19, are being held on nearly $10 million bond each.  The District Attorney's office says it continues to investigate and "if the evidence supports a [hate crime] charge, it will be filed."  Hate crimes are considered a misdemeanor under Oklahoma law.   Watts and England face three first degree murder charges each, and two shooting with intent to kill charges each.

Dannaer Fields, Bobby Clark, and William Allen died in the Friday shooting spree.  David Hall and Deon Tucker, both men in their 40s, were injured.

FOX23’s Adam Paluka spoke with Reverend Jackson on Wednesday, and he congratulated Tulsa leaders for quickly apprehending Watts and England, but he says many black people still feel unsafe in Tulsa and in Oklahoma. He told Adam that is why he's making a stop at First Baptist Church of North Tulsa.

First Baptist Church of North Tulsa's Pastor hasn't found much time to sit down.

“The last six days have been a whirlwind,” Reverend Anthony Scott said.


When he did have a chance to reflect, Reverend Scott thought north Tulsa needed a place to heal and a place to look toward the future.


“We just talked about the need for some sort of community gathering to kind of foster hope,” he said.


The gathering will be on Saturday with Reverend Jesse Jackson speaking at the service.


“He could offer a voice of peace and calm and tranquility and assurance that all things are well,” Reverend Scott said.


When it was announced many criticized the decision saying Jackson has almost no connection to Tulsa, but Reverend Jackson says he is coming to Tulsa as an invited guest.


“I am coming to Tulsa because we are concerned, because we've been invited and people feel they need to have a connection and they do not feel secure,” Reverend Jackson told FOX23.


He says his message will be simple, “Whites should not kill blacks. Blacks should not kill whites. People should not kill people. We must learn to live in civilized relationships.”

Reverend Jackson hopes who ever is in attendance Saturday leaves feeling better about their future in our city.


“I would hope that citizens in Tulsa and in Oklahoma white and black alike would find a reason to really around a case for justice and peace,” Reverend Jackson said.

Reverend Jackson says he does feel the shootings were a hate crime, but so far authorities haven't made that determination.


Bishop Harold Jones founded the Tulsa Chapter of National Action Network and has worked closely with Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Black Wall Street USA organization. 

Rev. Al Sharpton, an outspoken civil rights activist, makes regular guest appearances on FOX News, MSNBC and other news outlets.  He hosts a program on MSNBC.

Jackson will speak at the First Baptist Church at 6 p.m. on Saturday.  Sharpton will address Greater Union Baptist Church on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Story Comments Share

42 Comment(s)
Comments: Show | Hide

Here are the most recent story comments.View All

The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of KOKI FOX23 - Tulsa

butchcon - 4/13/2012 10:49 AM
0 Votes
Sharpton and Jackson are both Race Hustlers thats how they make a living sticking their faces in a microphone Where were they when 4 blacks carjacked, kidnapped, tortured and murdered 2 white college kids in knoxville, TN. Jan. 2007 oh my bad they said that wasn't a hate crime.

clindsey1959 - 4/13/2012 10:24 AM
0 Votes
OFBD1, according to wikipedia, the FIRST recognized Miss Black America pageant was held August 17, 1968. Other pageants, I have no doubt were held; however, the first OFFICIAL pageant was held Aug. 17, 1968, (the same day as the Miss America Pageant) in protest of the Miss America pageant! I stand by my resesarch. That, however, is beside the point! We are living in a time where the media slants the news or tells only a portion of the truth, same with radio and newspaper. Adding to that, we now have laptops, blackberries, iphones, palm pilots, ipads, etc. and we are not communicating with one another. I watch teens and even adults in their 30's and 40's and what amaazes and saddens me is the fact that people don't talk to one another. If they can't text or email, they don't know what to do?! EVERYONE PLEASE, PUT THAT CRAP AWAY AND HAVE A CONVERSATION!!!!!!!! Racism, discrimination, it could be alleviated with such a small amount of effort if each of us practiced the TRUE Golden Rule "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!" I just don't get it, what is so hard about that? Bringing Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to Tulsa to speak in a church in North Tulsa is only going to pour more fuel on the fire?! These two men are the epitome of hypocrits! They fuel racism! They have their own agenda and their own platform and I can assure you it is NOTHING that is going to be beneficial to Tulsa! There are so many things wrong with this world we live in but, there is also a lot of things right. Change starts within you, then you have the capacity and ability to make a positive impact on everyone's life you encounter. Our world needs change, so lets start with ourselves and our city, then when it comes time to vote, RUN, don't walk to your closest voting polls and continue to make changes there!! Again, "Red & yellow, black & white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world!"

ellen - 4/13/2012 7:51 AM
0 Votes
Sadly, both Sharpton and Jackson are fading relics of a fading past. Let them both grow a two day beard and try to walk safely afterdark without being in danger of the gang culture that so deeply influences the community. Total integration will mean nothing until the children graduate with work skills, and work attitudes taught at home doing homework at the supper table and getting prepared for school the next day. Until then, planting flowers, painting up, sweeping up, fixing up would be nice. Don't take comfort from another man's historic contributions-----today make a contribution of your own.

jarhead40 - 4/13/2012 5:33 AM
0 Votes
Maybe they can rally at the Chicken Hut. You know a place that has a history of solidarity...as exhibited by all the caring patrons that stood idly by while a person was shot and fighting for his life. You want to make a statement Sharpton then talk about the culture of crime in the black community and not the very isolated and often deceiving white on black. FBI stats show that we have a population of 20% black, yet 49% of homicides are committed by blacks, and of those 95% are black on black!

watchdog11 - 4/12/2012 11:16 PM
0 Votes
What I find odd is that blacks still feel the sting of slavery, some still use that as a reason and justification to hate whites and claim racism, but at the same time they listen to Louis Farakkhan who heads the army called FOI,he is a muslim, and the muslims are the one group of people in the world who always have and still buy and sell slaves, and see nothing wrong with it, they beat them, make them work, keep sex slaves which they abuse and kill when they tire of them, most of their slaves are Africans. Of course most Americans know that the Africans were the first people to capture their own people and sell them as slaves, without them the Europeans would never have taken slaves in the first place, How can you hate something that was such a horrible human atrocity and at the same time follow a man who believes in and supports and does the same thing himself? I wondered the same thing when Malcom X was leading black people in protests carrying signs about slavery, he was a muslim also....now the NBPP is all muslims, and the black community allows them to speak for them all the time...that would be like white people allowing Hitler, David Dukes,or Robert Byrd speak for them...well, I guess some whites DID allow Dukes and Byrd to speak for them since they were elected over and over, but I didn't vote for those white supremist and never would, they make me as sick as Jackson, Sharpton and Freak-a-khan.

oklagal - 4/12/2012 6:36 PM
0 Votes
WHAT DO SHARPTON AND JACKSON KNOW ABOUT TULSA? THEY ARE JUST GOIN TO STIR UP MORE TROUBLE. THEY JUST SAY BLACKS ARE IN TROUBLE....LETS GO...

OFBD1 - 4/12/2012 1:49 PM
0 Votes
BMSCOTT SAID IT BEST!!!! clindsey...this is not the place for it...but your WRONG...look up the history. first crowned black miss america was in 1984 and miss america pagent caught alot of grief over it. Miss black america was started YEARS before 1968...it just got reconized BECAUSE they held it that year on the same date as miss america as a protest because of a RULE #7 you had to be white PERIOS. but thats not even the point. The POINT is the reason why blacks have alot of their own stuff is because at one time we HAD NO CHOICE...so why would we break a tradition that we was orginally made to do. AGAIN dont think al or jesse should come here for this...MEDIA blowing it way out of porportion. PEOPLE have to see the WHOLE picture when it comes to racism...its on BOTH SIDES when we're talking black/white. My deal is this...Why is whites racist against blacks? and Blacks atleast have a reason WHY its in us. and its not slavery either its the 50s, 60, 70s, AND 80s opression but (niether is right NOWADAYS)And I'm mixed black/white consider myself black because thats what the world sees me as and i've always been treated that way. Grew up on both sides seen racism on both sides..and no MATTER what WE DO...its not going nowhere...til Jesus Returns! ;) Cuz some folks are not going to teach their kids any diffrent white/black!

roadster05r - 4/12/2012 12:44 PM
1 Vote
Al and Jesse, two of the biggest race pimps in the world. What a great way to help end racism.

watchdog11 - 4/12/2012 11:45 AM
0 Votes
Tyrone Woodfork had a rap sheet a mile long, this was the first crime for England and his buddy, judges sometimes take that into consideration. Some one mentioned Terrico Bethel not having bond, that is for his protection, if he gets out he is a dead man, he will never make it to trial, I don't imagine Zimmerman will get bond for the same reason, when you have numerous threats against a criminal, they have to keep you safe until you can stand trial. I think these two need to get the maximum punishment for what they did, but if they are to get a fair trial, the public needs to stop contaminating the public opinion, if he goes to court and they can't find a jury of 12 who havent' already formed an opinion of his guilt or innocence, it could be a mistrial and make it impossible to try and convict them in Tulsa, and if it goes somewhere else there is no guarantee that town is not going to feel differently about what they did and why.

clindsey1959 - 4/12/2012 11:19 AM
0 Votes
OFBD1, let me get this straight, you are saying the only reason Miss Black America, etc., were started due to the fact black americans were not allowed to participate in the white pageants, right?! Well, the first Miss Black America Pageant was held Aug. 17, 1968 and it was held in protest on the same day as the Miss America Pageant. However, in 1970, Cheryl Brown, a black american from Iowa, was crowned the first Miss America; but, they continue to hold the Miss Black America Pageant, WHY? Your argument of not being allowed to participate is no longer valid. However, if I wanted to participate in the Miss Black America Pageant, I would not be allowed because of the color of my skin?! Why then, based on your argument, could we not have the Miss White America Pageant? If we go by your argument, by all right, we should be able to do this, correct?! This is the double standard that promotes racism REGARDLESS of the color of your skin. When white people are wronged, do they run to find the nearest white supremacy group...........NO, because that is not how the problems get addressed and resolved. If black americans can not speak for themselves and always have to run to the NAACP, how do you ever expect racism to go away? I don't have all the answers, but I know that bringing all this negative publicity to Tulsa, bringing Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to Tulsa, racism will only get worse. I wish people would understand, YOU, not your neighbor, your family, your friends, YOU, must take the first steps in alleviating racism. Take care of you and your home, set the example and we'll work towards slowing racism down. I wish we could completely obliterate racism, but unfortunately, racism is old as time. By the way, Tyrone got no bond because of his rap sheet. I still think if they know you committed murder or you confessed, there should be no bond!!!
FOX23 Weather Center
73°
Feels Like: 73°
High: 86° | Low: 64°
Mostly Cloudy
Most Popular
Underwood, Shelton helping tornado victims
Blake Shelton has a date and location for his benefit and fellow Oklahoman Carrie Underwood is writing a large check to help benefit those affected by this week's storms in their home state.
Top Stories
Inergize Digital This site is hosted and managed by Inergize Digital.
Mobile advertising for this site is available on Local Ad Buy.