'These Charges Have Literally Ruined My Life': OKC Protester Speaks Out After DA Drops Terrorism Charge

An Oklahoma City protestor charged with terrorism after May's civil unrest in downtown spoke out on Friday for the first time.

At the Oklahoma County courthouse, 27-year-old Eric Ruffin admitted the protests last summer got out of hand, but said he never started a fire and is not a terrorist.  

“There was one point where I went to Walmart and people were yelling out that I’m a terrorist,” Ruffin said. “Like, 'you don’t even know who I am.'”

Ruffin spent nearly a year fighting that label and charge. Ruffin said he took the rap after video of protesters setting fires in downtown Oklahoma City surfaced.

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater’s office charged Ruffin and two other who were seen in the video with terrorism and arson.

“It don’t add up whatsoever, because I didn’t break anything. I didn’t break anything. I didn’t tell anybody to do anything,” Ruffin said.

The district attorney dismissed the terrorism charge in court on Friday. However, Ruffin pleaded guilty to third-degree arson.

“Today, we took an appropriate amount of responsibility for our role, which was one of sort of encouraging people that night,” said Clay Curtis, Ruffin's attorney.

Ruffin received a three-year deferred sentence and will have to pay $5,000 in restitution fees for the damage caused during the riots.

“At the end of the day, we’re damaging our own community. That part is not OK to say the least,” Ruffin said.

Ruffin said the terrorism charge also damaged his professional reputation. He lost his job working in the mental health field.

“These charges have literally ruined my life, being labeled a terrorist,” said Ruffin.

While the experience has changed his life, Ruffin said he would not stop fighting for change in his community.

“The purpose of the whole situation was to bring awareness,” said Ruffin.  

Prater said Ruffin’s co-defendant who was charged with arson and terrorism waived his preliminary hearing this week and was bound over for trial. Prater said the man will likely take a plea.