The Oklahoma Supreme Court is expected to decide on Friday whether those attending Saturday's campaign rally for President Donald Trump in Tulsa should follow federal guidelines for face masks and social distance.
The court referee recommends to judges who hear arguments over the phone Thursday that the case will be discussed Friday afternoon. The referee did not think he would make his recommendation.
A Tulsa lawyer sued the BOK Center this week for "protecting the community from significant, imminent, and life-threatening danger" to prevent the community from organizing the rally.
The petition contains guidelines for the growth of documented cases of COVID-19 in Tulsa County and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the petition, "all trusted and qualified medical professionals, including the CDC, agree that this type of mass mobilization indoor event carries the greatest potential risk of community-wide viral transmission."
Oklahoma Thursday set a new state record for cases that increased overnight, with 450 new cases confirmed.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said people worried about the COVID-19 outbreak at the rally should stay home.
- Tim Willert, The Oklahoman
Curfew was imposed before the rally
The Tulsa Mayor's Oklahoma curfew was imposed before President Donald Trump's campaign rally, prompting officials to break away from supporters camping in front of the arena.
Mayor T. Barnum announced the ordinance Thursday evening, citing more than 100,000 population and planned protests and civil unrest, which have already spread to the city and country this month.
Barnum said he has received information from the Tulsa Police Department and other law enforcement agencies, "that shows that organized groups of people involved in violent or violent behavior in other states are traveling to the city of Tulsa with the goal of causing unrest." In and around the rally. "
Barnum said the order was necessary to protect health and safety and to protect life and property.
In some parts of the city downtown, the curfew started at 10 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays will run until 6 p.m. It will resume at the end of the Trump rally and continue into Sunday morning.
"There are already big crowds and lines in Tulsa," Trump tweeted hours after the Friday morning curfew was implemented.
He also issued a warning: "Ok, Oklahoma protesters, anarchists, agitators, looters or loafers, please understand.
Just days before the rally, Trump supporters began lining up outside the BOK Center.
"Sacrificing a week in our lives is nothing to what Trump has done for us," Robin Stites, who came in to claim the No. 2 spot in Monday's row, told the Oklahoman earlier this week.
In a Facebook post Thursday evening, the Tulsa Police Department mayor is asked to leave the area in violation of executive orders. Those who refuse can be cited or arrested.
In addition to the curfew, the order prohibits Molotov cocktails or other combustible equipment.
"This is an unprecedented event for the city of Tulsa and has hundreds of moving parts," the Post said. "We are asking for everyone's help to make this a safe event for all citizens."
The Oklahoma City celebration has been postponed to COVID-19
The event was postponed Friday by organizers of the black culture's Oklahoma City celebrations due to concerns about the crowd, as the state is facing an increasing number of COVID-19 cases.
Half a dozen exhibitions at the city's Plaza District weekend are collectively called "Artists in Solidarity: Black Lives Matter," which showcases black artists, vendors, filmmakers, and artists.
Friday's incident with Juntheen was expected to attract 10,000 people, health officials warned, adding that any major meeting could lead to a coronavirus epidemic.
"We are excited to do what we feel is important and important and celebratory and artistic. But we must put the safety and public health in place," said Selena Schormann, Plaza District Executive Director. "We're definitely going to schedule."
The number of state cases of COVID-19 rose to 450 on Thursday, exceeding 259 infections.
In a statement, Chaya Fletcher, one of the plaza's district administrators, said, "You can't say no to Black Lives Matter and then risk their lives." "Black people are greatly impacted by COVID and it is our responsibility not to contribute to the rise of those numbers."
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