Julius Jones honored in demonstration and chapel service

• 

On Thursday, Nov. 18, OCU students and faculty participated in a student-led demonstration in support of Julius Jones. At 12:45 p.m., students met in front of the OCU cafeteria to walk together across campus to attend the university chapel service at 1:00 p.m.

Julius Jones, who is now a 41-year-old man was convicted in 1999 for the murder of a man from Edmond. Jones was scheduled to be executed at 4:00 p.m. on Nov. 18. At noon an hour before the chapel service, it was announced that Governor Kevin Stitt had granted Jones clemency.

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-1 for Jones’s sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment on Nov. 1. Governor Stitt waited until the day of the scheduled execution to grant Jones clemency.

Students planned the walk to the university chapel before the clemency decision was announced. The walk was led by members of the Black Student Association. The organizers invited all students to participate and asked students to wear black. After the chapel service ended the Black Student Association planned to hold a demonstration at 2 p.m.

Gladys Green, a member of the Black Student Association, said the tribute was crucial. “We think it is important we all come together in solidarity for Julius Jones and his family,” Green said. “The decision today gives us a sense of hope, but there is still work to be done. We are thankful for faculty and staff who have been supportive of this cause, and we are thankful for students who understand the impact of supporting this cause – for him and his family.”

The walk began at 12:45 p.m. Students dressed in black carrying signs with messages of hope and support for Jones and his family linked arms to walk as a group. The group chanted and sang together as they walked downstairs in the student lounge, outside and up the steps leading to the sidewalk, and across campus to the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel. 

Rev. Elizabeth Horton-Ware addressed the crowd, explaining that chapel services are planned months in advance, and can often change their tone based on new events. 

Following Rev. Horton-Ware’s opening remarks, Vice President of the OCU Native American Society Joseph Gutierrez stood and presented a land recognition declaration.

The Land Recognition was followed by a Call to Community and response prayer, led by Elizabeth Gwartney. Next, OCU University Singers, directed by Tony Gonzales sang “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”

After the musical arrangement, Catherine Hurd stood to present the Interfaith Reading – “The Master’s Tools” by Audre Lorde. 

Dr. Talia Carroll, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was the interfaith speaker for the Chapel service. Carroll began by complimenting the choir and expressing her own emotions.

Carroll entitled her speech “Let’s Not Miss Opportunities”. Carroll encouraged the audience to adopt a practice to handle the stress of many commitments and obligations. 

“You should not be a martyr for the world,” Carroll said. “You should be sleeping…eating. One person cannot do all the work and take all burdens on their shoulders to enact change without help.” 

According to Carroll, it is in the spirit of community and change that all people should hold space for those who are different or marginalized.

“What does it mean to be in community with others? How do you define your communities? What can you be doing to promote diverse communities of belonging?” Carroll asked audience members.

Dr. Carroll then instructed the crowd to make eye contact with someone. This acknowledgment across the room was repeated three separate times. After the activity, Dr. Carroll said: “This is community.” 

Dr. Carroll’s message was followed by an Interfaith Poetry Reading of Michele Bombardier’s Sequoiadendron Giganteum and OCU’s Highwomen sang a song of community. 

A message for Sharing Hope for our Interfaith Community was presented by Allie McMurry, Mikel Kendrick, Kohl James, and Jackie Guajardo.

Reverend Horton-Ware then shared closing remarks, and the Chapel service concluded.