McGirt forum shut down early due to backlash from audience

Image: Tulsa World

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt was forced to end a forum early after he and a panel of district attorneys were berated by audience members as they tried to explain how the U.S. Supreme Court’s McGirt decision had unintended consequences for victims of crime regardless of tribal citizenship.

The Tulsa World reports the main source of frustration for Native Americans who attended the forum on Tuesday was the lack of tribal representation on the panel.

Okmulgee-based attorney Brenda Golden briefly addressed the crowd in the forum to call for civility, but maintained that the state should understand that the Supreme Court has affirmed tribal sovereignty.