Affiliate News
ACLU Remembers Michael Camfield
11.11.11
This week, the ACLU of Oklahoma lost a former co-worker, great advocate, and dear friend Michael Sky Camfield. Michael worked for the ACLU of Oklahoma from 1993-2009. For much of that time, Michael was half of the two member staff along with former Exceutive Director Joann Bell. During his time at the ACLU he was a powerful advocate for many Oklahomans.
Michael began working for the ACLU of Oklahoma in 1993. While he served many roles, the majority of his energy was devoted to finding unique ways to grow the membership and to develop an impressive and consistent fundraising base.
In 1997, an Oklahoma resident complained that the academy award-winning German movie The Tin Drum contained child pornography and therefore violated Oklahoma law. After a local judge viewed the movie and agreed with the complainant, the police subsequently went to neighborhood video stores and removed all copies of The Tin Drum, and obtained, without a warrant, the names of those who were currently renting it. One copy had been rented by Michael who got wind of the impending seizure and wanted to see if the movie was really objectionable. Police came to Michael’s house and asked for the cassette, which he handed More >
Bill of Rights Celebration to feature Baratunde Thurston of The Onion
10.17.11
The ACLU of Oklahoma Foundation is excited to announce this year’s Bill of Rights Celebration featured speaker is Baratunde Thurston of news satire organization The Onion. He will be delivering this year’s key note address, and guests will be in for a treat.
Thurston is a politically-active, technology-loving comedian and co-founded the black political blog, Jack and Jill Politics. His first book, How To Be Black, will be published in February 2012 by Harper Collins. The ACLU of Michigan honored him “for changing the political and social landscape one laugh at a time,” and was nominated for the Bill Hicks Award for Thought Provoking Comedy. Then-candidate Barack Obama called him “someone I need to know.”
The ACLU of Oklahoma Foundation will also be honoring Jana Lewis Harkins for her years of commitment to advancing civil rights in Oklahoma. She will be presented with the distinguished Angie Debo Civil Libertarian of the Year Award.
Individual tickets are $50 and student tickets are $25. Tickets can be purchased here.
For sponsorship info, please contact Allie Shinn or at (405) 524-8511.
For more information on Baratunde Thurston, please visit www.baratunde.com.
Long-time Activist to Receive ACLU’s Highest Honor
9.26.11
The ACLU of Oklahoma is excited to announce this year’s Angie Debo Civil Libertarian of the Year is Jana Lewis Harkins of Oklahoma City.
Harkins is no stranger to the ACLU. She has served on the board of directors twice and also served as the board president. While serving as board of directors in 1987, she received the distinct honor of becoming the first African-American president of any ACLU affiliate in the country.
“Harkins has dedicated a lifetime to fight for equality, and her passion has inspired many,” said Ryan Kiesel executive director of the ACLU of Oklahoma. “We are excited to honor such a trail-blazer.”
In addition to Harkins’ commitment to the ACLU, she has dedicated her life to civil rights. Witnessing the unfair treatment of women within the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, she began her fight for the fair treatment of women and workers. She became heavily involved with the Communications Workers of America Union, and she would ultimately become the first African American and first female elected as the Executive Vice President for the CWA Local 6016.
She has worked tirelessly to increase voter participation and to educate the masses about women’s rights, racial justice, and human rights.
In 2005, she co-hosted an More >
ACLU Says Denial of Clemency for Troy Davis Exemplifies Death Penalty’s Systemic Injustices
9.20.11
Execution in Face of Serious Doubts Unconscionable and Unconstitutional
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: (212) 549-2666;media@aclu.org
ATLANTA – The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles today denied clemency to Troy Davis, despite serious concerns that he was wrongly convicted of killing a police officer in 1989.
“The refusal today by the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to grant Troy Davis clemency underscores the vast systemic injustices that plague our death penalty system,” said Denny LeBoeuf, director of the ACLU Capital Punishment Project. “No innocent person should ever be put to death, and it is unconscionable and unconstitutional to carry out an execution where, as in Troy’s case, significant doubts exist. The death penalty system in the United States is arbitrary, discriminatory and comes at an enormous cost to taxpayers, and it must be ended.”
Visit www.aclu.org for more information.
ACLU of Oklahoma and CAIR to Ask Appeals Court Monday to Uphold Ruling
9.8.11
ACLU of Oklahoma and CAIR to Ask Appeals Court Monday to Uphold Ruling Blocking Implementation of Oklahoma Ban on Sharia and International Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 8, 2011 CONTACT: Robyn Shepherd, ACLU national, (212) 519-7829 or 549-2666; media@aclu.org DENVER – Counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will present arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Monday, September 12 at 1:00 p.m. MDT to ask that the court uphold a ruling blocking implementation of a discriminatory and unnecessary Oklahoma state constitutional amendment that prohibits courts from applying – or even considering – what is broadly described as Islamic “Sharia law” and “international law.”
The measure, officially titled the “Save Our State Amendment,” was temporarily enjoined last year by a lower court for blatantly disfavoring an entire faith and denyingOklahoma’s Muslims access to the judicial system on the same terms as every other citizen. The ACLU and CAIR are seeking to have the amendment permanently struck down.
More information on the case is available at: www.aclu.org/religion-belief/muneer-awad-v-paul-ziriax-oklahoma-state-board-elections-et-al
WHAT: Arguments in appeal of lower court ruling blocking implementation of anOklahoma state constitutional amendment prohibiting courts from applying or considering Sharia law and international law.
WHO: Daniel Mach, director More >
