'Black Lives Matter' Holds Vigil, Memorial Service For Terence Crutcher In OKC

Faith leaders and neighbors from across Oklahoma City sat and listened Friday night at a vigil for Terence Crutcher inside the East Sixth Street Christian Church.

It was the first time an Oklahoma City gathering has been held, one that was particularly painful for Reverend T. Sheri Dickerson who knows the Crutcher family.

“It is very, very difficult to watch friends of yours or people that you care about go through something so tragic and then have to live with the scrutiny of it,” Rev. T. Sheri Dickerson said.

Special Coverage: Terence Crutcher Police Shooting

Dickerson is a founding member of the Black Lives Matter-Oklahoma organization.

“We need healing. We need to promote solidarity and that we're asking for change,” she said.

Crutcher was killed by Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby after his car stalled on a highway. Shelby has been charged with manslaughter. Friday morning, she pleaded not guilty in front of a Tulsa County Judge.

Her lawyer has claimed in the past Shelby suffered from an auditory exclusion phenomenon and has no memory of hearing another officer fire his stun gun before she opened fire on Crutcher. She’s currently out on bond.

9/30/16 Related Story: TPD Officer Betty Shelby Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ To First-Degree Manslaughter

Dickerson said she was pleased with the charge and hoped for a conviction and “proper” punishment. If convicted, Shelby faces up to four years in prison. Since 2007, Oklahoma courts have only charged two officers in 162 police shootings. Both officers were convicted.

The vigil on Friday night wasn't just a remembrance it was also a call to action. NAACP President Garland Pruitt told members of the community to stand against what Black Live Matter is calling police brutality and racial bias, but to do so peacefully.

“We're not anti-police, we're not anti-law enforcement, we're anti-racism. We're anti-killing us!” he said.

“Their evidence for racial bias, in part, was three key seconds from the Tulsa Police Helicopter in which the pilot can be heard saying “that looks like a bad dude right there.”

“They automatically assume that you have and designate someone as a big bad dude I believe that only became because Terence Crutcher was a man of color,” Dickerson said.

Ultimately, Black Lives Matter members were asking for change through better community policing, sensitivity and mental health training; along with a chance to make their voices heard without feeling as if they're in danger.

“Fear is not the answer. Challenge is the answer. Challenge is the answer. Confrontation is the answer. Stepping up to the plate is the answer,” Pruitt said.