OKLAHOMA CITY – In response to Governor Stitt signing into law HB 1643, which criminalizes accountability work by making it a crime to publish personal information about a law enforcement officer or an elected or appointed public official, and HB 1674, which criminalizes protesting in roadways while removing criminal or civil liability for a person driving a vehicle who hits or kills a protester, the ACLU of Oklahoma issued the following response:
The following is attributable to Nicole McAfee, Director of Policy and Advocacy:
“The ACLU of Oklahoma has long fought to protect the First Amendment right to assemble and hold those in power accountable through protest. With the stroke of a pen, Governor Stitt has decided to stand on the wrong side of history and threaten one of the most fundamental rights of our democracy. Throughout the 58th Oklahoma Legislative Session, we have seen politicians at the Oklahoma Capitol push agendas that chill free speech and infringe on the rights of protesters. And we know this is just the beginning in a lengthy list of legislation aimed at communities who took to the streets to make their voices heard in the wake of George Floyd's murder.”
“Just this week at the legislature we witnessed an inequity in response, as white militants gathering were met with cordiality and protesters of color were met with near-physical confrontation and beefed-up law enforcement presence. People protesting police violence should not face more police violence. The ACLU of Oklahoma along with organizers on the ground are in a fight to end the systemic violence inflicted on our Black and Brown communities, and our government’s escalating attacks on protests against racism and police brutality should concern everyone. We are in serious conversations with partners on our next steps to protect Oklahomans' right to free speech. The power of protest belongs with the people, and we will not tolerate these attempts to silence Oklahomans.”
