Greenwood Press Conference Sparks Urgent Call for Unity, Healing, and Action After Juneteenth Tragedy
By The Greenwood Beat – WFPG
June 25, 2025 – Tulsa, OK
Yesterday, the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Deep Greenwood Foundation, community advocates, media representatives, and the grieving family of 22-year-old Isaiah Knight—who was tragically murdered on Juneteenth on historic Greenwood Avenue—gathered for a powerful press conference calling for unity, healing, and real change in Tulsa.
Held on the sacred grounds of historic Greenwood, Dr. Freeman Culver, President of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, delivered a firm message of hope and collaboration.
“We’re not here to assign blame. We’re here to say it’s time—time for all of us to work together for the good of the community,” said Dr. Culver. “We will have closed-door meetings with leaders, councilors, and the mayor, and then come back to the community with real solutions.”
Heather Nash of the Deep Greenwood Foundation spoke about protecting the legacy of Greenwood and investing in its future, emphasizing the need to meet pain with purpose.
Community leader Terry Baccus addressed the importance of public safety and perception:
“We must stand united as a community and assure both residents and tourists that Tulsa—and specifically, the historic Greenwood District—is a safe and welcoming place.”
Well-known community advocate Angie Pitts spoke directly to the role adults play in shaping young lives:
“We need to start telling our young people the truth and show them love. They are hungry for guidance, and we have to meet them with truth, not just talk.”
Adding to the urgency of community-wide protection, Officer Mark Jeans, owner of TriArms Security Solutions and longtime protector of Greenwood Chamber events, shared critical insight on safety planning:
“There are key safety measures that should always be taken when organizing large events like Juneteenth. I’m willing to work with organizers to ensure detailed plans and adequate safety protocols are in place for future events,” Jeans stated. His remarks were met with support from attendees who agree that safety must be proactive, not reactive.
As the press conference turned into a deeper community discussion, residents asked vital questions:
“What’s the next step?”
“What support is being offered to parents and families?”
One attendee made an emotional plea:
“We can offer services for our kids, but if they’re going back to homes where trauma and dysfunction are the norm, we’re not fixing the root. We must support the parents, too.”
Dr. Culver announced that the next leadership and strategy meeting will take place on
📅 Monday, July 1, 2025
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Honey Love Restaurant – 100 Block of North Greenwood Avenue, in the Historic Greenwood Business District.
This follow-up meeting aims to engage the community with updates, solutions, and a united path forward.
To provide a safe and healing space for expression, The Greenwood Beat – WFPG is launching Open Mic Night, starting Thursday, June 26 at 6 PM. In partnership with Grand Mental Health, free counseling services will be available at every session. These weekly gatherings aim to uplift voices, offer mental health support, and spark collective action.
“This is our chance to do something different—for Isaiah, for the families, for the future,” said one attendee. “Let’s speak up and stay together.”
📍 COMMUNITY CALL TO ACTION:
🎤 Open Mic Night — Thursdays at 6 PM
🧠 Counseling Services On-Site — Provided by Grand Mental Health
📍 The Greenwood Beat – WFPG, Historic Greenwood Avenue
📅 Next Strategy Meeting: July 1, 2025 @ 6 PM at Honey Love Restaurant
Let’s speak. Let’s listen. Let’s lead.