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| Toby Jenkins |
As racial tensions exploded in Tulsa Wednesday and appear to be continuing into today, Toby Jenkins, the director of Oklahomans for Equality failed to circle the wagons quick enough to keep the racial controversy at his LGBTQ center from spilling over to the public and becoming the subject of news reports.
In a word soup statement posted on the group's Facebook, Jenkins said:
"We regret that the incidents of today were deemed newsworthy. What occurred today was a private matter that, in part, resulted from a disagreement between individuals on social media. One of our constituents arrived at the center as a result of the disagreement, and unfortunately, a conversation regarding the initial social media post was unable to occur. We know this has left our constituents concerned and confused. Oklahomans For Equality is committed to an internal and organization-wide examination of leadership and programs to address any bias.
This incident highlights an intersection of social justice issues that are faced by the multitude of our diverse constituents. We are committed to having a productive dialogue going forward as to what we can do, proactively, to address and confront the systemic injustices that exist in our communities. We are a group that seeks to lift one another up. Today’s unfortunate situation does not reflect the care and support that we seek and see in our community every day.
We appreciate the concern of our community and thank you for your continued support and understanding. We know that for many of you this is a safe place in which you have invested many precious hours and generous donations.
If you have been impacted emotionally by this event, please feel free to reach out to OKEQ to access our mental health resources.
The center is open to the community and facilities have been restored. Programs will meet as regularly scheduled. OKEQ did not file charges."
Jenkins appears to have wanted to silence the growing scandal of one of his board directors defending a Ku Klux Klan member's rights and his own rude and dismissive behavior towards a Black Lives Matter (BLM) activist.
BLM activist Shay White was protesting the center yesterday over her belief that they have a history of racial non-inclusion and that the position taken by board member Sharon Baldwin-Bishop was hurtful towards African Americans.
This story really begins last week, when Hate Trackers exposed a Tulsa County Court Clerk employee named Bonnie Kukla as being a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
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| Tulsa white supremacists bombed scores of African American homes and businesses, while massacring hundred in 1921. |
The fact that the Tulsa county government is employing a white supremacist isn't setting well with an African American Community that has been the target of a KKK-driven massacre and seen the gunning down of an unarmed black man by a white Tulsa police officer named Betty Shelby, who got away with her murder of Terence Crutcher on the streets of Tulsa.
White ended up vandalizing the center, but only after her concerns were ignored and Jenkins treated her dismissively as seen in this video.
Midway through White's protest Jenkins ordered a Tulsa Fox news affiliate away from the center and refused to respond to press inquiries. Board member Sharon Baldwin-Bishop has also decided to remain silent after stirring up racial tensions.
The pair also refused to speak with The Gayly, an LGBTQ newpaper that covers Oklahoma.
However, Jenkins desire for an internal cover up failed and the incident was the subject of several news reports, including ours. Hate Trackers watched the entire incident unfold on a Facebook live stream being broadcast by White.
Although the Facebook videos have been removed, we filmed the streams as they happened using a screen capture program. Those videos can be found in our original report and on our YouTube Channel.
Jenkins' Oklahomans for Equality describes itself as seeking "...equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals and families through intersectional advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center."
White was upset over the civil rights organization's board member advocating on social media of the need to protect the rights of people in the Ku Klux Klan over those of African Americans and justifying her stance by comparing the rights of the white supremacist group - who blacks with good reason consider a terrorist organization - with those of LGBTQs.
That echoed statements made in past years by the infamous homophobe Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern, who also conflated gays with terrorists.
During her tenure with the Oklahoma legislature Kern not only targeted gays, but blacks as well.
One racially charged speech she made led to her censure by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Baldwin-Bishop's conflation of gays with the terrorists within the Ku Klux Klan, who have murdered over 3,000 African Americans, was perceived as quite disingenuous to People of Color with many of White's supporters stunned that the board member would dismiss the feelings of African Americans and defend a white supremacist's rights above theirs.
One is an oppressed group, while the other is a deadly terrorist group that remains dangerous to blacks.
Thus, BLM activist Shay White, who has volunteered and donated to the center while seeking to change its dealings with People of Color, launched her protest at the Dennis R. Neil Equality Center where Jenkins runs his non-profit.
That protest ended up with the center being vandalized and White being taken into custody by Tulsa police.
Jenkins has also allowed some extremely horrible remarks to be lodged at Shay White on his personal Facebook page.
Jenkins' friend Brian Russell of Ozark, Arkansas referred to the black woman as an "ignorant little bitch" and her behavior as akin to that of an animal - a description racists, including those in the KKK, are known to use against black people, who they perceive as being less than human.
A white man named Les Bur seems to think that a black person must be physically assaulted as a prior condition to be taken into custody. He wanted the black woman tackled - that is assaulted - before being cuffed.
White ended up vandalizing the center, but only after her concerns were ignored and Jenkins treated her dismissively as seen in this video.
Midway through White's protest Jenkins ordered a Tulsa Fox news affiliate away from the center and refused to respond to press inquiries. Board member Sharon Baldwin-Bishop has also decided to remain silent after stirring up racial tensions.
The pair also refused to speak with The Gayly, an LGBTQ newpaper that covers Oklahoma.
However, Jenkins desire for an internal cover up failed and the incident was the subject of several news reports, including ours. Hate Trackers watched the entire incident unfold on a Facebook live stream being broadcast by White.
Although the Facebook videos have been removed, we filmed the streams as they happened using a screen capture program. Those videos can be found in our original report and on our YouTube Channel.
Jenkins' Oklahomans for Equality describes itself as seeking "...equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals and families through intersectional advocacy, education, programs, alliances, and the operation of the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center."
White was upset over the civil rights organization's board member advocating on social media of the need to protect the rights of people in the Ku Klux Klan over those of African Americans and justifying her stance by comparing the rights of the white supremacist group - who blacks with good reason consider a terrorist organization - with those of LGBTQs.
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| Sally Kern |
During her tenure with the Oklahoma legislature Kern not only targeted gays, but blacks as well.
One racially charged speech she made led to her censure by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Baldwin-Bishop's conflation of gays with the terrorists within the Ku Klux Klan, who have murdered over 3,000 African Americans, was perceived as quite disingenuous to People of Color with many of White's supporters stunned that the board member would dismiss the feelings of African Americans and defend a white supremacist's rights above theirs.
One is an oppressed group, while the other is a deadly terrorist group that remains dangerous to blacks.
Thus, BLM activist Shay White, who has volunteered and donated to the center while seeking to change its dealings with People of Color, launched her protest at the Dennis R. Neil Equality Center where Jenkins runs his non-profit.
That protest ended up with the center being vandalized and White being taken into custody by Tulsa police.
Jenkins has also allowed some extremely horrible remarks to be lodged at Shay White on his personal Facebook page.
Jenkins' friend Brian Russell of Ozark, Arkansas referred to the black woman as an "ignorant little bitch" and her behavior as akin to that of an animal - a description racists, including those in the KKK, are known to use against black people, who they perceive as being less than human.
You'll note that when HT did a screen capture of this racist and misogynist post it had already been up on Jenkins' Facebook for five hours. Instead of deleting the vile comments waged towards a frustrated black woman, Jenkins allowed the racist tropes to remain on his social media.
Calling black people dumb and stupid are typical tropes of racists wanting to dehumanize African Americans. JP Hicks decided to take that approach as well.
Calling black people dumb and stupid are typical tropes of racists wanting to dehumanize African Americans. JP Hicks decided to take that approach as well.
A white man named Les Bur seems to think that a black person must be physically assaulted as a prior condition to be taken into custody. He wanted the black woman tackled - that is assaulted - before being cuffed.
The incendiary posts Jenkins is allowing on his social media may be leading to a call for violence against the black activist.
This morning Shay White posted on her Facebook "I am no longer accepting friend requests as I have been receiving death threats since yesterday."
At the time of this article's publication Jenkins and Oklahomans for Equality have not reached out to black Tulsans in an effort to tackle what is clearly some significant problems within the organization.
Meanwhile, other civil rights organizations, such as We the People Oklahoma, aren't trying to hide their activities and are instead calling for the immediate firing of Bonnie Kukla - the Ku Klux Klan member working in the Tulsa County Clerk's office.
It's becoming increasingly clear that Toby Jenkins, Sharon Baldwin-Bishop, and Oklahomans for Equality need to sit down and listen to the experiences and feelings of African-American Tulsans.
That conversation is way past due.
It's stunning that many whites are more determined to stand with the Klan and protect their rights, while condemning a black woman for being frustrated over it.
This morning Shay White posted on her Facebook "I am no longer accepting friend requests as I have been receiving death threats since yesterday."
At the time of this article's publication Jenkins and Oklahomans for Equality have not reached out to black Tulsans in an effort to tackle what is clearly some significant problems within the organization.
Meanwhile, other civil rights organizations, such as We the People Oklahoma, aren't trying to hide their activities and are instead calling for the immediate firing of Bonnie Kukla - the Ku Klux Klan member working in the Tulsa County Clerk's office.
It's becoming increasingly clear that Toby Jenkins, Sharon Baldwin-Bishop, and Oklahomans for Equality need to sit down and listen to the experiences and feelings of African-American Tulsans.
That conversation is way past due.
It's stunning that many whites are more determined to stand with the Klan and protect their rights, while condemning a black woman for being frustrated over it.
Blacks can't speak, overturn tables, or kneel because no matter what they do many whites will exercise the white supremacy they think isn't in them to make non-whites the bad guys and try to silence them. Just as being done in this case.
They're once again telling blacks they're out of line and to remember their place.
Some of those "constituents" are better defined as deplorables and clearly need to put on blue MAGA hats.
OF RELATED NOTE: Last year in Oklahoma City Troy Stevenson, the director of Freedom Oklahoma - an organization similar to Oklahomans for Equality - was fired after joining with Republicans to try to sabotage the OKC Pride Parade.
They're once again telling blacks they're out of line and to remember their place.
Some of those "constituents" are better defined as deplorables and clearly need to put on blue MAGA hats.
OF RELATED NOTE: Last year in Oklahoma City Troy Stevenson, the director of Freedom Oklahoma - an organization similar to Oklahomans for Equality - was fired after joining with Republicans to try to sabotage the OKC Pride Parade.
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