Archive for November, 2008
ACLU Loses Invaluable Advocates
11.10.08
Samuel J. “Jack” Bell, June 9, 1947 – February 23, 2008
Jack was a great friend to the ACLU of Oklahoma. He was always willing to help out in any capacity at the affiliate office. The floor to ceiling library shelves in the conference rooms were constructed by Jack. He was always available with his truck when the affiliate office moved to a bigger and better location. Jack was the unofficial “photographer” for the affiliate, capturing photos for the newsletter and web site and helping with bulk mailings. He is missed.
Harley Brown, October 26, 1907 – June 6, 2008
Harley was a retired University of Oklahoma professor. His support of civil liberties was inspired by anti-communist witch hunts directed at faculty members on college campuses during the 1940s and 50s. He was a long time supporter of the ACLU.
RESTORATION OF THE ANTI-DEATH PENALTY PROJECT
11.10.08
Matt Whalen, Project Director
The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma is proud to announce the revitalization of the ACLU of Oklahoma Anti-Death Penalty Project. This project has been dormant for the past decade and members of this affiliate are very excited to be back on the front lines fighting for an end to this unconstitutional practice. The purpose of the Project is to provide the people of Oklahoma with a resource dedicated to the abolition of the death penalty through continuing public education, lobbying efforts and litigation. The Project will assume a proactive posture in the struggle to abolish the death penalty in our state, and will accomplish this goal through educational presentations, publications and public demonstrations designed to inform individuals, civic leaders and government officials. It consists of five sections that will carry out the objectives of the Project, and is currently being supervised by Project Director Matt Whalen and Legislative Coordinator Tammy Thomas. Each of the five sections will, in turn, be headed by a section chairperson. I will be responsible for coordinating the efforts of the different sections and setting an agenda which will forward the stated purpose of the project, subject, of course, to approval from More >
THE DEATH PENALTY – TORTURE REFINED?
11.10.08
Posted by ACLU OK in Commentary
Randy Coyne
By Randy Coyne, National Board Representative
Presently, 36 states (including Oklahoma) and the federal government are in the execution business. All of these jurisdictions (save one) use lethal injection as the primary method of killing prisoners sentenced to death. Other apparently lawful execution methods include hanging, electrocution, and death by firing squad.
During the past year, Oklahoma prison officials have killed twice. On August 21, 2007, officials at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester lethally injected Frank Duane Welch for the 1987 murder of Jo Talley Cooper, a 28-year-old Norman woman. And on June 17, just two months after the Baze Supreme Court decision, Terry Lyn Short died by poison for murdering Ken Yamamoto, an Oklahoma City University student in 1995.
Notwithstanding the biblical admonition, “thou shalt not kill,” the U.S. Constitution clearly contemplates the use of death as a punishment under certain circumstances and with certain restrictions. For example, although the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments empower the government to “deprive” a prisoner of his life, before the government exterminates an inmate, it must first provide due process. Whatever the hell that is. Oh, I remember: It’s whatever the Court says it is.
The most meaningful limitation on the death penalty, though, is More >