By Travis Handler
Every Oklahoman must ask themselves not whether they support the death penalty, but rather: Do I trust the government with the power to kill its citizens—especially after catastrophic failures in the recent past?
Oklahoma's criminal legal system has failed to protect the innocent, those with serious mental health conditions, and individuals who have suffered adverse childhoods from execution. We cannot allow this to continue! Capital Punishment is racist, arbitrary, costly, and error-prone. It is time to end the death penalty once and for all.
The mission of the Not in My Name Coalition is to raise awareness, educate, and mobilize individuals and groups to take a stand against the use of capital punishment in the state of Oklahoma. Through our efforts, we strive to foster a culture of empathy by validating the humanity of people incarcerated on death row and advocating for their fundamental rights. Together, we declare, Not in My Name: we stand against the ultimate and irreversible act of state-sanctioned violence. Join the fight to end the death penalty in Oklahoma by becoming part of the Not in My Name Coalition. As a member, you will be informed of local events and rallies, gain a space to organize, and join a network of dedicated individuals who are committed to the work alongside you. Sign up now!
As many of you know, after more than eight years at the helm, former Executive Director Ryan Kiesel stepped down from leading the ACLU of Oklahoma. Ryan’s time at the affiliate is marked by an impressive list of victories and advances on a wide range of political and legal issues. In short, he left big shoes to fill. And after an extensive search, the ACLU of Oklahoma Board of Directors found just the right person to fill them.
It’s time for the main event: Election Day. Are you ready to vote? Election Day is finally here, and we at the ACLU are here to ensure you Know Your Rights when you head to the polls. Listen to this week’s episode of At the Polls to get the rundown to make sure you’re ready to cast your ballot.
Taylor Pendergrass, Director of Advocacy, ACLU of Colorado
Okla
On November 3, Oklahomans will have their final opportunity to lend their vote to meaningful criminal justice reform this cycle by voting Yes on State Question 805. As is often the case for criminal justice reform in Oklahoma, opposition to this modest reform has been rife with misinformation, and rooted in the idea that somehow a state who has managed to incarcerate people at the highest rates in the world to the detriment of our public safety is doing justice.
By
Sandra Park, Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU Women's Rights Project
As the COVID-
Manar Waheed, Senior Legislative and Advocacy Counsel, ACLU
Four years ag
Poll workers have a reposnsibility when it comes to protecting the voting rights of our transgender community.
Across the country, over 5 million people who are of voting age cannot vote because of felony disenfranchisement laws, including one in five Black Americans. These laws are a relic of the Jim Crow era, and were intentionally designed to suppress the vote — particularly the Black vote — by limiting the impact of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.
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