Tulsans rally to stop Black-on-Black crime
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Hours after a man was shot and killed in north Tulsa, a group marched through the streets in protest of gun violence in their community.
Their route took them within a mile of that crime scene.
Data from the city shows Black Tulsans are three times more likely to become victims of a homicide than white Tulsans.
This march, organized by Negro Spiritual 21, is meant to change that.
Among those making the mile-long trek to Chamberlain Park was Lamar Norman Jr.
"I would want to be here for someone else's son," he said. "Or someone else's mother."
His 13-year-old son, Lamar Norman III, was shot and killed in December 2021.
Police say a teen was behind the gun.
"The cause is bigger than me, you know, and it's bigger than him," said Norman. "And that's what I always told my boy, that is bigger than us."
Co-organizer of the march, Richard Baxter, is tired of the violence, which is why he came up with the idea for the rally.
"When somebody Black is killed by somebody Black, it's not business as usual," he said. "We are the change. Enough is enough. No more gun violence in our community."
While the group hopes this will spark a solution, they're also remembering the lives lost to that problem.
"When it comes to your children, and when it comes to just the community, we need to all stick together," said Xzaviere Chatman, who lost her son Xzavion to gun violence.
Organizers are working on putting together a youth mentorship program in the north Tulsa community.
If you're interested in volunteering to be a mentor, click here.
