Gov. Stitt, First Lady Sarah Stitt Discuss Racial Inequality During Roundtable

After thousands of Oklahomans protested after the death of George Floyd in police custody last week, community leaders said now is the time to come together and find solutions.

Governor Kevin Stitt, along with First Lady Sarah Stitt, sat down with others in the community to talk about the best way to heal racial inequality. 

People’s Church (Oklahoma City) Pastor Herbert Cooper said it starts with communication.

“Conversation then creates some relationship, and out of relationship, we get understanding,” Cooper said. “That's what I’m hoping and that's what I’m hoping all of Oklahoma in this season we're in that we really engage in conversation.”

Some discussed the importance of getting children in spaces where they can get used to being around people of different races.

“Recognize the future of America is very ethnically diverse,” Stronger Together founder Clarence Hill said. “And let's not set our children up to have the same walls, blockages and blind spots that we have.”

Law enforcement was also represented in the discussion as well. The officers talked about the way they strive to connect with communities and the importance of coming together during this time. 

Moore Police Chief Todd Gibson said law enforcement has come a long way, but they still have a long way to go.

“It's not an ‘us versus them’ issue. It's an ‘us’ issue,” Gibson said. “It’s not ‘police versus everyone else.’ This is a police issue.”

“We have to see things,” Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Marcus Williams said. “People from different ethnic groups or backgrounds perceive things differently and we have to understand that.”