Volunteers rally to support Monroe Nichols in mayoral race

Written By: Nate Morris

(GREENWOOD DISTRICT, Okla.) Roughly twenty Tulsans gathered at B.S. Franklin Park in the heart of Greenwood early Saturday morning to volunteer for Monroe Nichols as he campaigns to be the city’s next mayor.

Read this story on The Black Wall Street Times. 

Motivated by issues of education, housing access, and economic justice, the enthusiastic and diverse group of supporters donned Monroe for Mayor shirts as they heard a brief message from the candidate himself.

Following a training from local organizers, volunteers then set out to knock doors across North Tulsa.

Less than five weeks remain until early voting begins in the mayoral race. Current Mayor Gt Bynum chose not to run for a third term. The open race has drawn two other major candidates aside from Nichols: County Commissioner Karen Keith and Businessman Brent VanNorman.

The outcome of the election will guide Tulsa’s future for years to come. For many, the state of politics across Oklahoma and the nation makes this election that much more pivotal.

Community leaders organize outreach efforts to help elect Monroe Nichols as the next Mayor of Tulsa

Two of the organizers of this morning’s rally, Ana Barros and former school board member Diamond Marshall, spoke to The Black Wall Street Times about their support for Monroe Nichols.

Barros told The BWSTimes she found the outpouring of support and enthusiasm at this morning’s event inspiring.

“Local elections arguably have the biggest impact on our daily lives,” Barros said. “It was beautiful to see so many people fired up about electing a new mayor and building a vision for our city.”

Marshall, who in 2023 became the youngest board member in Tulsa School Board history, echoed Barros’s sentiments.

“In 2020, I started organizing with Greg Robinson,” Marshall said, referring to Robinson’s mayoral campaign during the last cycle. Robinson endorsed Nichols and held a virtual rally for him earlier this week.

“Craving that same energy again, I started working with Monroe Nichols,” she continued. “I’m inspired by Monroe’s genuine commitment to our community.”

Marshall called Nichols the “best mayoral candidate”, calling him a “community-focused leader”.

According to organizers, volunteers knocked on hundreds of doors in less than two hours this morning. They estimate they will knock on over 500 doors by the end of the day Sunday, and plan to continue these effort each week until the August 27th election.

Note: The final day to register to vote in the Tulsa city elections this August in Friday, August 2nd. Oklahomans can register for the first time or update an existing registration at https://okvoterportal.okelections.us/.