Oklahoma City residents march in protest of new jail location

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - On Wednesday, Oklahoma County Commissioners met to discuss potential locations for the new county jail. 

One of the proposed sites, at Northeast 23rd and Coltrane, has drawn a ton of backlash. This morning Northeast OKC community leaders led a march in protest of it. 

“We do not want our communities to continue to be impacted by negative economic development,” Nikki Nice, Oklahoma City Ward 7 Councilwoman. 

Resident John Bilbury added, “Nobody I know wants this location, period."

A group of about two dozen community members marched from the proposed spot all the way to the Oklahoma County Courthouse, where the meeting was held. The about 6 mile trek took more than two hours.

"Our ancestors marched and this is Black History Month,” said Nice. “They marched and that's how they got action. So this is nothing new.” 

Even County Commissioner Carrie Blumbert weighed in on social media. She posted "I will never vote yes on a site in NEOKC or Del City. it is unfair to black and brown communities, who are already disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system, to bear the burden of our new jail location."

Wednesday’s efforts ultimately paid off. The location was removed from the list. 

Those who marched said they want the jail to stay at the site it’s already at downtown. 

"Why can't it be downtown?” said Bilbury. “All the support structures, the court systems, the police off the police station. All that stuff has been rebuilt and it's put right down there."