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Memorial for Kendrick Simpson
Kendrick Simpson was a poet, a friend, a father, a grandfather, a son, and a loving community member. On February 12, 2026, Kendrick was executed by the state of Oklahoma. You can learn more about Kendrick here.
Kendrick’s life was marked by resilience, creativity, and a deep commitment to education and the arts. He was the first person in Oklahoma to earn his GED while on Death Row, and he excelled in several college courses, demonstrating his dedication to learning even in the most challenging circumstances.
During his time at Rose State, Kendrick published poetry in the 2024 and 2025 editions of the school’s literary journal, Pegasus. In 2024, he was a finalist for the James Axley Fiction and Poetry award for his poem, “Who Am I.” Kendrick also published a book of poetry, essays, and short stories written from Death Row, titled Sentenced to Speak: Ruminations of a Triggered Mind. He dedicated the sales of his book and any other donations to the creation of a writing award for a Department of Corrections student at Rose State, hoping to inspire others to find their voice through writing.
Please join us in honoring Kendrick’s memory at this memorial.
ACLU of Oklahoma wins appeal of Judge’s Decision to Deny Name Change to Transgender Applicants
By Bryan Newell
Media Advisory: ACLU of Oklahoma files for Summary Judgment in Open Records Lawsuit
By Bryan Newell
ACLU of OK Names Plaintiffs in Bishop v. Oklahoma Case 2013 Angie Debo Civil Liberties Recipients
OKLAHOMA CITY-- The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma has announced that the four plaintiffs in the Bishop v. Oklahoma lawsuit--Mary Bishop, Sharon Baldwin, Susan Barton, and Gay Phillips--will receive the Angie Debo Civil Liberties Award for their long and potentially landmark fight against Oklahoma's ban on same-sex marriage. The reception will be held in the Bell Court Room at the University of Oklahoma Law School on Saturday, March 29, 2014.
By Bryan Newell
ACLU of Oklahoma Joins Amicus Brief in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, along with the ACLU and the ACLU of Pennsylvania, have filed a friend of the court brief urging the United States Supreme Court to reject the claim that a corporation can use religion as a justification to discriminate against women by refusing to make coverage for contraception available as required by federal law. The ACLU’s brief discusses the history of attempts to invoke religion to trump anti-discrimination measures to explain that such attempts are not new, and such attempts have been consistently rejected by the courts since the civil rights movement.
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By Bryan Newell
Federal Court Declares Oklahoma Ban on Marriage for Same-Sex Couples Unconstitutional
OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal court today declared that Oklahoma’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples is unconstitutional. Implementation of the decision is on hold while the state appeals.
By Bryan Newell
49 Oklahomans Serving Life Without Parole for Nonviolent Offenses, Finds ACLU
OKLAHOMA CITY – In the first-ever study of people serving life without parole for nonviolent offenses in the United States, the ACLU found at least 3,278 such prisoners in federal and state prisons combined; 49 of whom are serving life without parole for nonviolent offenses in Oklahoma.
By Bryan Newell
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