In order to satisfy protesters, the City of Tulsa is delaying removal of the “Black Lives Matter” sign on Greenwood Avenue in Downtown Tulsa.

Mayo G.T. Bynum claims the property owners indicated they do not want the mural to remain. The merchant and tenant association said they do not want the mural to remain. But tey owners, merchants and the tenant association said they do not want to be blamed for having it removed.

The city attorney said use of any city street as a public forum would open every city street in town – both main streets and neighborhood streets – to similar use. Following the City Council’s vote to not to issue a permit, the city will now proceed with removal of the mural at some undetermined time in the future.

Someone put blue paint on the sign last week and city officials refused to stop protesters from repainting “Black Lives Matter.” Some nearby merchants wanted to file a vandalism complaint against whoever put on the blue paint but the police said if the blue paint is vandalism, the Black Lives Matter sign must be treated as vandalism, too. According to the City Charter, Article VIII, Section 13. – Permits,  “The Council may grant a permit to any person or corporation to occupy or use portions of the streets, highways, alleys, public ways, public places, or any other real property of the city under such terms and conditions as the Council shall impose; provided, such use does not unreasonably interfere with the public use thereof. Permits may be revoked by the Council at will. Upon the revocation of a permit, the holder of such permit shall remove within a reasonable time any encroachment on the property of the city and pay the cost thereof.”