OKC National Memorial & Museum Speaks Out About Capitol Chaos

There's many opinions surrounding around Wednesday's events at the U.S. Capitol, but the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum said it's what you do with your opinion that matters.

Kari Watkins with the national museum said the chaos that erupted in Washington reminded her of April 1995 when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was attacked.

“It was an attack on the government just how yesterday’s was. So, I think we've come far in some ways and not far enough, clearly,” Watkins said.

The museum sent a message to thousands of educators following the breach at the Capitol, encouraging them to have an open conversation with their students about the impact of violence. 

“As a teacher, you're allowed to sit there and have an open safe discussion with your students. So how do we work through this together and teach them that there's always going to be things that we have differences about, but how do we get to the middle ground without creating more problem?” Watkins said.

One teacher taking on this exercise is Elizabeth Scott at Edmond North High School. Scott said she's teaching her students that issues aren't always black and white. They're sometimes a gray area.

“I think people underestimate our students' ability to engage in civil discourse and engage in serious real time conversation. The events at the capitol came up. They had a mature and profound discussion about what happened and how violence is not the answer. and how they felt about it,” Scott said.

Next week, the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum plans to discuss what the 2020 election has taught us.