An Oklahoma pastor who has publicly called for slavery reparations plans to file criminal charges against racist protesters after claiming he was assaulted.
Pastor Robert Turner of Tulsa’s Mount Vernon AME Church claims the assault occurred on the afternoon of July 15 outside Tulsa City Hall, reported Tulsa World.
A video from the demonstration appeared to show anti-mask protesters — most of whom were white — mocking Turner as he recited biblical passages.
Less than a month after President Trump’s woefully poorly attended Tulsa rally at BOK Center, many Oklahomans are arguing that mandatory mask-wearing violates their civil liberties.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a prominent backer of President Trump and attendee at that June 20 rally, announced he was COVID-19-positive on July 15.
Video footage from July 15 shows some protesters attempting to block Turner’s bullhorn, throw water at him and tauntingly waving cash.
“How much you need [for reparations]?” jokingly asks one demonstrator while flapping cash at the pastor. Another protester is seen fluttering a credit card in the cleric’s face, shouting, “I want to give you my credit card for reparations!”
Angie Mancino, of Tulsa, Okla., yells during a protest against the proposed citywide mask ordinance being voted on by Tulsa City Council, Wednesday, July 15, in Tulsa. (Ian Maule/AP)
Sporting a black face mask, Turner urges the crowd to “rejoice,” for “this is the day that the Lord has made,” when an unmasked female protester approaches him, according to the video.
Annoyed that Turner continues speaking, some of the protesters try shouting over him with exhortations of “U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!”
“Today, people shouted ‘U.S.A.!’ at us as though it was an attack — as though the United States was no place for Back men seeking justice. It is a sad day in Tulsa, but I will not be deterred in this fight,” said Turner in a statement. “By God as my helper, I will endure this fiery furnace, and we as a people will make it to the promised land. Our people will know justice.”
