Senator Inhofe Visits State To Discuss Law Enforcement, Protests

Oklahoma's senior US senator was in town Tuesday to show support for law enforcement.

Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) heard from victims' rights advocates and members of the Canadian County Sheriff's Department at Sundance airport, but he said action more than 2,000 miles away were what prompted the visit.

“I came because I experienced what’s going on in Portland, Oregon and I wanted to make sure law enforcement in the state of Oklahoma is appreciated at a level that they don’t even think about in Portland, Oregon,” Inhofe said.

Inhofe took to the senate floor earlier this month after he said members of the Oregon delegation condemned the president for sending in federal force.

“Law enforcement officers out there, state and federal – thank you,” Inhofe said in the Senate on August 5. “I appreciate you and am grateful for your service.”

“Those guys are burning buildings and they’re throwing bombs,” Inhofe told reporters Tuesday. “They are by definition terrorists.”

Asked about Oklahoma City’s Black Lives Matter movement, Inhofe said, “It’s become a cliché the people like to talk about the black lives matter as if they didn’t matter. They matter. But no matter how much you say that, you still see the signs up there, black lives matter.”

“There are legitimate grievances,” Inhofe said. “I think it’s spread out. I can’t see where they are where they are not.”

Members of the Canadian County Sheriff’s Department and victims’ rights advocates with Marcy’s Law attended the round table.