Citing to the sharp rise in the number of Oklahoma COVID-19 cases and the disproportionate effect that the coronavirus pandemic has had on Black communities, the Plaza District cancelled its planned "Solidarity in the Plaza: Black Lives Matter" for Friday night.
As previously reported, the inaugural event — one of at least a half-dozen events around Oklahoma planned to celebrate Black culture this weekend, since today is Juneteenth — was to showcase Black artists, vendors, filmmakers and performers.
Although the festivities would be primarily outdoors, Plaza District Executive Director Selena Skorman said as many as 10,000 people were expected to attend due to the high level of interest in the new event. Such a crowd would make social distancing virtually impossible in the Plaza District.
"We're crushed. We were so excited to do something that felt important and like a celebration and artistic. But we just have to put safety and public health first," Skorman told The Oklahoman.
