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Backward-thinking Oklahoma sheriffs, prosecutors and legislators are bringing in outside help in their bid to undermine criminal justice reform overwhelmingly supported by Oklahoma voters and a large, diverse, nonpartisan coalition of Oklahomans that continues to grow. Their ally in this fight against Oklahomans is none other than U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who is scheduled to speak at an Oklahoma Sheriffs Association meeting Oct. 19 at Rose State College in Midwest City. To understand all that is wrong with criminal justice in America, look no further than Sessions. Few people present a better contrast of what works and what doesn’t in criminal justice. As aRead More →

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The following comments were read by Oklahoma City Board Member, Charles Henry, at the September 5 meeting of the Oklahoma City School Board. We’re publishing Mr. Henry’s comments today in support of his position that the Oklahoma City schools named for Confederate generals should be changed without delay.    The School Board hears public comments at each of their regularly scheduled meetings, including the meeting tonight, September 25. Board members are also reachable individually as listed below: Paula Lewis, Oklahoma City Board of Education, Board Chair, plewis@okcps.org Charles Henry, Oklahoma City Board of Education, District 1, henryokcpsboard@gmail.com Rebecca Budd, Oklahoma City Board of Education, District 2,Read More →

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In response to the news that the Oklahoma City Police Department has killed a deaf man who did not respond to officer commands, the ACLU of Oklahoma released the following statement: The following is attributable to Allie Shinn, Director of External Affairs: “We are incredibly saddened and disturbed by the news that an Oklahoma City police officer shot and killed Magdiel Sanchez, a deaf man confronted on his own porch. Police have an obligation under the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide reasonable modifications in their interactions with people with disabilities.  The neighbors put the police on notice that they were dealing with someone whoRead More →

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In response to multiple violations of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment from the Mounds Police Department on the official department Facebook page, the ACLU of Oklahoma released the following statement: The following is attributable to Brady Henderson, Legal Director: “Both the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and provisions of the Oklahoma Constitution protect against government officials establishing a state religion. The exclusive, pervasive promotion of the Christian faith by the Mounds Police Department represents a clear violation of those legal mandates. By promoting one specific religion on its official Facebook page, the Mounds Police Department has established clear preference for thatRead More →

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In response to the announcement that the number of people in Oklahoma’s corrections system has reached an all time high of over 63,000, the ACLU of Oklahoma released the following statement: The following statement is attributable to Ryan Kiesel, Executive Director: “It is unacceptable, though unsurprising, that the Oklahoma Department of Corrections continues to set new records on the number of humans suffering under our current system. Oklahoma’s criminal justice system is an unsustainable, indisputable human rights catastrophe. As more and more Oklahomans are consumed by our political leaders’ insatiable appetite for mass incarceration, we move further from safety and justice and closer to reachingRead More →