Preparations Underway For Reverend Al Sharpton's Tulsa Visit

Reverend Al Sharpton is visiting Tulsa Wednesday night for a city-wide prayer and call for justice event.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Jazz Hall of Fame in downtown Tulsa; organizers say Terence Crutcher’s family asked Sharpton to come back to Tulsa to lead the rally.

One of the organizers, Bill White, said anyone from the public is invited.

"We want the city to come together to pray," he said.

Besides Sharpton, other speakers include Tiffany Crutcher, Terence's sister, the family's attorney Benjamin Crump and NBA basketball player Etan Thomas.

5/9/2017 Related Story: Organizers Want Sharpton Visit To Unite Tulsa, Not Divide

The message, White said, will be unity during a trying time for the city.

"We can all come together and be one Tulsa, not two separate Tulsas - not north Tulsa, not south Tulsa, east Tulsa, but one Tulsa that comes together to pray and ask God to help us in this difficult time," he said.

Tulsa Police said it has extra groups of officers on stand-by in case a march, protest, rally or any event affects traffic.

The department asked officers not to take vacation or leave town and to have those crews available over the next few weeks.

The last time Sharpton was in Tulsa was September 2016 when he led thousands of people on a march through downtown, calling for justice in the death of Terence Crutcher after Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby shot and killed him.

Special Coverage: Betty Shelby Manslaughter Trial

It was a peaceful protest, and that day Sharpton gave Tulsa city leaders credit for how they handled the situation.

"They put the video out right away which they will not do in other cities, so Tulsa is a model," Sharpton said.

The rally begins at 6:30 Wednesday night.

No word yet on whether Sharpton will attend Shelby's trial.