Two more charged with terrorism

Two more proteste rs Friday were charged with terrorism after a further investigation into the damage to an Oklahoma City bail bonds business May 30.

Haley Lin Crawford and Sydney Lynch are accused in the felony charge of acting with a large crowd of others to unlawfully break the windows of CJ's Bail Bonds.

They are the youngest so far to be charged in Oklahoma County District Court over protests May 30 and 31.

Crawford's 18th birthday is Saturday, records show. Lynch turned 18 two weeks ago. Both are from Oklahoma City. Investigators said they were identified from a recording made on Facebook by another protester and from tips to CrimeStoppers.

Three other pro testers were charged earlier with terrorism. So far, six protesters have been charged with rioting and one has been charged with assault and battery upon a police officer. More rioting charges are expected next week.

Also, five protesters were charged with incitement to riot over a confrontation with police in June during the painting of a street mural.

District Attorney David Prater has been both praised and condemned for his get-tough stance on what charges to file over the protests.

The harshest criticism has been directed at the terrorism charges filed over the burning of an Oklahoma

County sheriff's van and the damage to and attempted burning of the bail bonds business.

The ACLU of Oklahoma called the terrorism charges “nothing short of an abuse of power.” Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City held a protest July 2 to denounce the filing of the terrorism cases.

Prater has stood by his decision.

“This is not Seattle,” he said June 26.“We' re not putting up with this lawlessness here.”

On June 28, he said, “These criminals have subverted peaceful protests and impaired the open discussion regarding race in our country. ... When you act like a terrorist, you will be treated like a terrorist. All innocent citizens of Oklahoma County deserve to be protected.”