By Ashley Ellis
The Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that it won’t press charges against those accused of painting a Black Lives Matter message on the street in front of city hall.
On Oct. 10, a group of protesters marched from the Center of the Universe to Tulsa City Hall at 2nd and Cincinnati, where they painted “BLM” in large yellow letters on 2nd Street. City crews removed the paint about two hours later.
Tulsa police arrested a number of people for the incident.
The DA’s Office issued this statement regarding the decision:
“The Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office was presented with reports requesting prosecution from the Tulsa Police Department in reference to the defacement of city streets by protestors associated with the “Black Lives Matter” movement. After reviewing the facts and the law associated with the submitted reports, our office declined to file state charges – which involved the potential for both misdemeanor and felony crimes. We referred the matters back to the City of Tulsa’s City Attorney / Municipal Prosecutor’s Office.
“Oftentimes citizens encounter circumstances in which their property is injured, damaged or defaced by another,’said District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler. ‘Not every occurrence necessitates the filing of state criminal charges. There are many other remedies available to address grievances, including civil actions for the recovery of damages. In addition, the municipal code for the City of Tulsa has an ordinance which clearly prohibits and criminalizes the very conduct which is complained of in these matters.’
“I am confident that the attorneys with the City of Tulsa have not only the experience but also the resources to address these matters in a manner which best serves the interests of the City of Tulsa,’ said Kunzweiler. ‘On a daily basis my office is focusing its limited resources on combatting violent crimes like murder, rape, robbery, domestic violence, and habitual offender cases. We will continue to review cases submitted to us, and we will make charging decisions consistent with our authority and within the bounds of the law and the facts.’
