Plaza project lacks funds, activist says

Civil rights activist Clara Luper scolded Gov. Brad Henry and the Legislature on Thursday over a lack of funding for an African-American Centennial Plaza.

Legislation, which clears the way for developing the plaza on the grounds of the state Capitol, went into effect in July.

Henry held a ceremonial signing of the bill Thursday with state and black leaders.

While Sen. Constance Johnson, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa, praised the governor and fellow lawmakers for support of the project, Luper criticized the lack of state funding provided in the law.

Lawmakers tried to secure $2 million in state funds to couple $2 million in private donations for the plaza, which is to be built in the median at NE 18 and Lincoln Boulevard.

So far, $30,000 has been raised in private funds. But the legislation signed into law forbids supporters of the project from appealing to the state for money to fund construction.

"They should give us respect. It's not their money, we all pay taxes," Luper said.

Johnson and Shumate said they will try to secure state funding for the plaza in the next legislative session.

Henry said at the ceremony, "I think the African-American Centennial Plaza is an extremely important project for Oklahoma," and pledged to continue to work to make the project a reality.