News & Commentary

January 26, 2017Oklahoma City-- In response to Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum and Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan’s assertion that the Tulsa Police Department will not become a federal dragnet deportation force, the ACLU of Oklahoma released the following statement:Please attribute the following to Ryan Kiesel, Executive Director:“The ACLU of Oklahoma is pleased to see Mayor Bynum and Police Chief Jordan honoring their commitment to protect all of the citizens of Tulsa, regardless of immigration status. Attempts to conscript local law enforcement into dragnet deportation forces are reckless, irresponsible, and counterproductive. Tulsa cannot be safe when crime victims and potential informants are too afraid of deportation to cooperate with the police.Resisting Executive Orders that force agencies to abet the federal government’s proposed reckless mass internment and deportation of immigrants is an important step in building trust between law enforcement and the communities it serves. To the extent that this declaration ensures that Tulsa will be a city free from unnecessary and counterproductive immigration enforcement, the ACLU applauds the Mayor and Police Chief’s actions.We call today upon municipalities and counties small and large to follow Tulsa’s lead by unequivocally announcing their intentions to resist the Trump administration’s attempt to coopt local law enforcement agencies and to affirm their commitment to ensuring that all those who wish to live in their communities are welcome and safe. While we welcome the opportunity to change minds through reasonable policy analysis, any municipalities and counties that intend to waste their limited public safety resources by implementing a dangerous and counterproductive policy, should, at the very least, be clear about where they stand and serve notice to the citizens they are choosing not to protect.” Please attribute the following to Oklahoma City Councilman Ed Shadid: All cities face police manpower challenges; Oklahoma City is no different. We need to focus our precious, limited resources on public safety for all of Oklahoma City's peoples, not towards assuming responsibilities of the Federal Government. I look forward to OKCPD Chief Bill Citty's comments on the matter at the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, January 31st (under City Manager Reports). I would encourage those interested to come to the city council meeting, if they are able, in order to participate in the discussion (sign up to speak under "Citizens to be Heard").

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September 30, 2016OKLAHOMA CITY – At the close of the ten-day protest period on Thursday, there were no challenges seeking to invalidate any signatures collected by Oklahomans for Health in their effort to place Medical Marijuana on a ballot for Oklahoma voters.  In response to the news that the final hurdle for the certification of signatures has been successfully cleared, meaning the question will appear on a ballot in the near future, the ACLU of Oklahoma and Oklahomans for Health released the following statements:Please attribute to Ryan Kiesel, Executive Director, ACLU of Oklahoma: “The more than 67,000 Oklahomans who signed the petition for medical marijuana will have their voices heard. The historic success of this grassroots effort led by Oklahomans for Health is a testament to the overwhelming support for medical marijuana. As a result, Oklahomans will have an opportunity to cast their ballot in favor of a modern, medically proven, and evidence based drug law, moving the State one step closer to sensible drug policy. In the meantime, we will continue our challenge to the Attorney General’s politicized and misleading re-write of the ballot title while working to ensure Oklahoma voters are able to decide this question as soon as possible.” Please attribute to Chip Paul, Co-Chair, Oklahomans for Health:“Oklahomans for health is excited that medical marijuana is one step closer to a vote of the people. This successful grassroots effort is a demonstration of how meaningful policy can be approached in a democratic society. We look forward to bringing this policy to a vote of the people in the very near future.”