News & Commentary
Ending Indefinite Solitary Confinement for the Vast Majority of People with Death Sentences in Oklahoma
By Travis Handler
Latest Event
Write the Row: Holiday Cards Event
Join ACLU of Oklahoma, the Julius Jones Institute, and the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty for an afternoon of community and solidarity! Together, we will be writing holiday cards to the men on death row.
The purpose of the “Write the Row” program is to affirm the humanity of the men on death row and ease their feelings of isolations through letters of encouragement. During this event, we want to ensure that the men and their families feel supported throughout the holiday season.
Letter writing materials and snacks will be provided. Please join us and invite your own friends and families to attend!
ACLU of Oklahoma Applauds Move Toward Medical Marijuana in Oklahoma
Augu
By Bryan Newell
ACLU Of Oklahoma warns that Oklahoma City Police Chief’s actions likely to increase tension, greater transparency needed
By Bryan Newell
ACLU of Oklahoma Calling for Independent Investigation into OCPD Arrest of Black Lives Matter Protester
&nbs
By Bryan Newell
Black Lives Matter Oklahoma, other organizations to hold peaceful protest and memorial vigil
July
By Bryan Newell
Records Show DPS Sought Access To Bank Account, Routing Numbers For Card Reader Program
State Sen. Kyle Loveless, R-Oklahoma City, said the card reader program was a dangerous, unconstitutional tool. Loveless said the fact that DPS officials initially sought access to banking information shows the program was just another method to take money.
“We’ve seen this time and time again,” Loveless said. “Now we see they were trying to get that type of information. This shows this isn’t about identity theft, drugs, or crime or ISIS, it’s just another method to take innocent people’s property.”
At least three requests for legislative studies about the program are pending in the House of Representatives. Loveless said he planned to hold a series of public meetings about the program this fall.
By
Legislative Session "Mostly Bad News" ACLU Of Oklahoma Leader Says
“In reality, the session did very little to help people,” Kiesel said. “We saw some horrible examples of bigoted and hate-filled legislation and a poorly written budget that does more harm than good.”
Many legislators, he said, were more concerned about deflecting the public’s attention away from the budget problem.
Kiesel said bills such as Senate Bill 1552, which would have made it a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion, and Senate Bill 1619, which targeted Oklahoma’s transgender residents, did nothing positive for the state and were ‘obviously unconstitutional.’
In addition, lawmakers passed a resolution seeking to remove the firewall from the Oklahoma Constitution that keeps the state from funding religious organizations with public money.
Kiesel called that resolution ‘unnecessary.’
“It (the resolution) has nothing to do with policy,” he said. “Instead, it is all about politics. The resolution is
By
Stay Informed
Sign up to be the first to hear about how to take action.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy statement.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy statement.