Gov. Kevin Stitt was booed off stage during a public forum held Tuesday night by the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office about the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt ruling.Only a handful of questions made it to the front of the room before protests erupted over the lack of Native American representation on the panel.”We need to keep all Oklahomans safe, and we put this panel on for you…,” Stitt said before a protester spoke.”You put us in danger just being governor,” the protester said.The panel was set to run from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, but Stitt ended the forum and left the stage just after 7 p.m.The governor’s office sent a statement to KOCO 5 on Wednesday saying, “last night’s forum for victims was hijacked by well-organized activists who decided their planned protest was more important than victims of crime getting the help they deserve. Over a 15-year period alone, the McGirt decision impacts approximately 100,000 cases, many of which will inevitably fall through the cracks. Gov. Stitt’s first and foremost priority is the safety of all 4 million Oklahomans, and he will continue to fight to ensure equal protection under the law.”Officials also insisted they invited leaders of Native American tribes to the forum.
Gov. Kevin Stitt was booed off stage during a public forum held Tuesday night by the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office about the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt ruling.
Only a handful of questions made it to the front of the room before protests erupted over the lack of Native American representation on the panel.
“We need to keep all Oklahomans safe, and we put this panel on for you…,” Stitt said before a protester spoke.
“You put us in danger just being governor,” the protester said.
The panel was set to run from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, but Stitt ended the forum and left the stage just after 7 p.m.
The governor’s office sent a statement to KOCO 5 on Wednesday saying, “last night’s forum for victims was hijacked by well-organized activists who decided their planned protest was more important than victims of crime getting the help they deserve. Over a 15-year period alone, the McGirt decision impacts approximately 100,000 cases, many of which will inevitably fall through the cracks. Gov. Stitt’s first and foremost priority is the safety of all 4 million Oklahomans, and he will continue to fight to ensure equal protection under the law.”
Officials also insisted they invited leaders of Native American tribes to the forum.