Archive for July, 2008
The ACLU of Oklahoma praises Henry for clemency grant
7.30.08
Press Release
7/30/08
Oklahoma City, OK — The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma’s Anti-Death Penalty Project (ADPP) commends Governor Brad Henry for granting clemency to Kevin Young. Young was sentenced to die in Oklahoma County for the murder of Joseph Sutton in May of 1996. The Pardon and Parole Board recommended clemency on June 9, and on July 24, Henry bravely commuted Young’s death sentence to life without parole. It is only his second time to grant clemency since taking office. The members of the ACLU of Oklahoma’s ADPP believe this is a step in the right direction for abolishing the death penalty in Oklahoma.
Members of the ADPP were present when the Pardon and Parole Board made the decision to grant clemency for Young. Four jurors that originally sentenced Young to die pleaded to the Board to grant him clemency. Young’s family explained how he was an asset in their lives by teaching the children in their family that living a life of crime will lead to life in prison. Due to Oklahoma laws, Young was not able to appear in person at his hearing but was able to testify via television. He said he was truly sorry to Sutton’s family More >
REMEMBER MOLLY IVINS (1944-2007)
7.7.08
The ACLU of Oklahoma acknowledges with sadness the passing of legendary journalist, columnist and long time ACLU supporter Molly Ivins. Molly never wavered in her commitment to the mission of the ACLU, and worked tirelessly as a spokesperson to benefit our organization. She appeared at countless affiliate events, and at one point resolved to do something for the ACLU at least once a month. She was the keynote speaker for the Oklahoma affiliate’s 1994 Bill of Rights Celebration and sent a video message to the 2003 event.
Molly’s legacy of support will continue through her bequest to the ACLU, a gesture she energetically encouraged others to make as well. As she put it, “I can’t think of anything I’d rather do with my worldly goods than fund folks who will be a pain in the ass to whatever powers come to be.”
To donate to The Molly Ivins Fund for Justice and Liberty, please visit aclu.org/mollyivinsfund. To learn about planning a bequest for the future of the ACLU, please visit aclu.org/legacy or call toll-free, 877-867-1025.
Let’s Talk About Sex
7.7.08
By Tamya Cox, Program Director
The federal government spent 206 million dollars on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs during 2006. Oklahoma received $690,342 for fiscal year 2005. Yet, as many of us know and the statistics show, not all teenagers are abstaining. In 2005, 48% of Oklahoma female high school students and 50% of male high school students admitted to having sex. These numbers clearly show that our teens are having sex, and now is not the time to turn a blind eye. We must arm our children with the knowledge and tools needed to prevent those who do have sex from unwanted pregnancies as well as contracting Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
Oklahoma schools are not required to teach sex education but must teach HIV/AIDS prevention. Many school districts who decide to teach sex education do so by teaching an abstinence-only-until-marriage curriculum. This curriculum gives medically inaccurate and biased information about the benefits of abstinence; it gives little or no instruction to those who do have sex about birth control and STD prevention. Young adults under the age of 25 are contracting the HIV virus an alarming rate.
Nationally and locally, we have seen a decline in the number of teen pregnancies, yet Oklahoma still ranks More >
ACLU SUES TO PROTECT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
7.3.08
The legal team prepares to file a challenge to the OCRI Ballot Initiative with the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Oklahoma voters filed a protest on March 7, 2008 before the state Supreme Court challenging irregularities and questionable practices in the collection of signatures by the so-called Oklahoma Civil Rights Initiative. The initiative is one of a series of ballot measures that California businessman Ward Connerly and his organization known as the American Civil Rights Institute (ACRI) have spearheaded across the country.
“When equal opportunity and the civil rights of our residents are at stake, it is critically important that the electoral process is fair, transparent and honest,” said Chuck Thornton, Legal Director of the ACLU of Oklahoma. “We are confident that this review will confirm what has already been discovered – the signature-gathering process was riddled with errors.”
The legal challenge follows the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s certification of the ballot measure’s signatures and Monday’s publication of the signatures’ alleged sufficiency by Secretary of State M. Susan Savage. Last month, Savage noted in a letter to the court that the signature count “has resulted in an unprecedented situation where large numbers of duplicate names and addresses were discovered well into the signature counting process….[and] it More >
