The National Black Power Convention has announced plans for an “armed demonstration” on May 29 in Tulsa’s Greenwood District in remembrance of the 2021 Race Riot/Massacre.

These out-of-state groups have every right to demonstrate and travel across the country to do so. The First Amendment guarantees that right to assemble and to exercise free speech.

Here where the concern lies.

This group is trying to rally other groups for a “Second Amendment armed demonstration” – according to their publicity.

Again, every law-abiding American has the right to defend themselves and Oklahoma is an open-carry state when it comes to firearms.

If this rally gets the “hundreds or thousands” of participants that the organizers project, the possibility of trouble increases.

According to a press release, “Black self-defense groups, and African-American gun clubs from all over America will be gathering by the hundreds (maybe thousands) to demonstrate to the nation the important message of; ‘Never again will we allow a Black Holocaust to take place!’”

Even if those demonstrators are intentionally peaceful, this weekend could draw other groups that would like nothing better than conflict. It has happened before in other parts of country.

And another problem is that this remembrance will undoubtedly paint Tulsa as overtly racist and Tulsa is not. This ignores any progress among racial groups that has been achieved in the past 100 years.

The hope is that everyone will have a chance to speak their mind and there won’t be any violence.

Tulsa has excellent law enforcement and that should be a comfort to any Tulsans who fear potential unrest on that Memorial Day weekend.