Hand held fans and agendas were passed out as Civic leaders and Chandler citizens gathered together in the Douglass Community Center with the desire to enact change.
Over 100 people walked in at the Open Forum on Race Relations and Tensions last Thursday with a need, and walked out with a plan.
During the forum, decisions were made to organize a community Unity Walk and donate funds for the purchase of body cams for the Chandler Police Department.
“My thing for wanting this walk is because the news is showing so much negative and they change the narrative sometimes on whats really going on,” Unity Walk Organizer Jessica Murray said. “There’s a lot of children of color in this community that are really frightened right now. We just want our children to know that it’s not just black people and it’s not just white people, it is our community standing together saying, ‘We’re going to look different than those other places and we’re behind you. Together.’”
The Unity Walk will be Saturday, June 13 at 9:00 a.m. Attendees will meet at the Douglass Community Center and walk up Main Street to the Lincoln County Courthouse.
Unity Walk Organizer Dre Murray said the purpose of this walk is to show each generation that although unity does exist within the community, there needs to be awareness of what is going on in the country and how thats impacting the community.
“The police officers are blocking the street so it’s safe for everybody,” Jessica said.
Jessica said this is a family friendly event.
“We want it very controlled so that it stays peaceful,” she said.
Jessica said the Assembly of God church is providing a trailer for those who are not physically able to walk, but still want to be a part of the unity walk.
When attendees arrive at the courthouse, speeches will be given, there will be a moment of silence and the funds raised for the body cams will be presented to the Chandler Police Chief Matt Mattheyer.
During the forum, the question was raised whether the police officers wear body cams. Chief Mattheyer said they didn’t have any because the cost was high and they were currently paying for a new radio system.
During the forum, Chief Mattheyer said they would benefit the public and the community.
“It would make a good officer better and make a bad officer come to light.” he said during the forum.
Chandler Ministerial Alliance President John Casey and Chandler Ministerial Alliance Treasurer Kirk Holloway began texting during the meeting, trying to find a solution.
“We want to celebrate the good cops and encourage the guys who are going it right,” Casey said.
Casey said they made the decision to raise the funds to provide each police officer at the Chandler Police Department with a body cam.
Currently there are nine full time officers and five reserve officers. Chief Mattheyer explained during the forum that each officer needs their own so that they’ll last longer and are specific for each officer.
Casey said the estimated cost for 14 body cams is $10,230. After doing research, Holloway found the Axon Body Cam 2 which is $731 per camera but is highly recommended.
Casey said he sees this donation as a win-win for the community and the department.
On Monday, Casey said they had raised $2,500 and will be presenting it at the Unity Walk. Donations can be sent to PO Box 315 in Chandler, Oklahoma or be given at the Unity Walk.
“When does the healing start? I don’t think the healing starts until we see some progress being made,” Reverend David Burgess said.
Reverend David Burgess decided to plan the open forum when he saw a desire for change coming from both the black and white communities in Chandler.
“Midway through the protesting when it turned to riots, I watched and watched and watched and thought, ‘Wow,’” he said. “The uniqueness that we have in this community is we don’t have the rioting. We seem to be a community that works together when theres a crisis. We come together when people need help.”
Burgess said it’s important to be a community that is proactive, instead of reactive.
He began planning the open forum and invited the Chandler community civic leaders, officials and pastors that could make the changes in the community that people desire.
“As leaders in the faith based community, if we don’t take a stand of unity together then how can we expect for our community to be that way?” Burgess asked.
Burgess already has plans to provide resources and create follow up programs including mentoring, networking and college readiness within the black community.
“After the protests, after the rallies, after the riots, after we do all that, where do we go from there?” he asked. “How do we implement these changes that are necessary so that we have some type of equality within our system?”
Burgess said this is a time to show solidarity within the community. “Let America see, let Oklahoma see,
“Let America see, let Oklahoma see, let Lincoln County see, let Chandler see, we are above that,” Burgess said. “We are being proactive to ensure that we have things in place that is fair equality for everyone. At least we’re trying to make that difference.”