Tulsans Call For Peace, Love In Light Of Recent Tragedies

Hundreds of people in downtown Tulsa met together to pray and sing for the victims of recent violence.

Organizers of the event say the turnout was larger than they expected.

People of all walks of life united in downtown Tulsa Friday night, showing support for victims, their families, and also police.

It wasn’t a protest or a march. Instead, organizer Jen Thomas said it was a call.

"It is a call to prayer and a call to love," she said.

Thomas said the call was in response to the two deadly officer-involved shootings this week. She also said the country needs prayer more than ever after the violence in Dallas.

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Friday night, many prayers came from Tulsa.

"We come together as a community making a standard of peace. We thank You, Father, that you will heal our land. Bring healing to the families. Bring healing to the community," they said together.

People of all backgrounds, ethnicities and ages walked from Guthrie Green to John Hope Reconciliation Park, chanting and singing.

Members of the community talked about race and its important role in Tulsa's history - lessons still relevant today.

"The history of Tulsa that has been hidden so long, now it is out, so we can teach the next generation what happened in the past so it won't happen in the future," participants said.

The call resonated with Chris Ahn, a teacher who just moved to Tulsa earlier this summer. He said this made him feel a part of something bigger, a part of something good.

"This is something that's really uplifting to see. And I hope to see more of this," Ahn said.

Several Tulsa police officers parked along the street or stood on rooftops to keep attendees safe.

But here on the ground, the only call was for prayer and peace.

Thomas said she plans to hold several open-dialogue meetings with local and state lawmakers.

Support for local officers wasn’t just shown in Tulsa. Friday, about 60 people went to the Bartlesville Police Department for a prayer vigil.

That event was led by Bartlesville Baptist Temple and Calvary Chapel Bartlesville.