City Leaders, NAACP Gather To Assure Tulsans With Message Of Unity

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett and police chief Chuck Jordan joined the Oklahoma NAACP and the message was clear -- regardless of skin color, religion or neighborhood -- Tulsa is one.<br/>

Sunday, November 30th 2014, 12:23 am

By: News On 6

City Leaders, NAACP Gather To Assure Tulsans With Message Of Unity

As the situation in Ferguson, Missouri continues to unfold following the August police-involved shooting death of an unarmed black 18-year-old, Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett and police chief Chuck Jordan joined the Oklahoma NAACP on Saturday to send a message about peace and unity.

The events in Ferguson, from the shooting to the demonstrations to the grand jury deliberations to the riots, have caused ripples across the nation.

The message was clear at All Souls Unitarian Church -- regardless of skin color, religion or neighborhood -- Tulsa is one community with one goal.

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It was a moment of unity in the wake of unrest.

Community organizers, clergy members and city leaders gathered to let Tulsa know where the city stands.

Rev. MC Potter of Antioch Baptist Church has been ministering to youth in the area for years and helped bring the event together.

"People are great,” Potter said. “People are valuable, especially our young people."

It was a message echoed by all, including Bartlett and Jordan, which was a sign of progress those in attendance said they're thankful for.

"We continue to do better, but we still have work to do and so seeing this and being able to be a part of this moment today was really, really important for me, and I think is really important for our community,” All Souls member Adien Weinerscmith said.

The city leaders stressed that the communication lines are open so everyone can work together for progress.

"I think this really and truly is ‘one Tulsa,'” community leader Vanessa Hall-Haper said. “I think that if those of us within the community that are having issues come together and work with others throughout the city -- and not only in government, but in other communities -- we can come together and solve any issues and problems we may have."

Those issues and problems are ones attendees hope to be proactive about instead of reactive.

Especially as the scene continues to play out just a state away.

“Overall feeling is one of hope and certainly one of prayer. One of prayer because there's evil on every side, and I'm just prayerful that this evil don't wreak havoc right here in Tulsa.”