News & Commentary
Ending Indefinite Solitary Confinement for the Vast Majority of People with Death Sentences in Oklahoma
By Travis Handler
Latest Event
Voices Uncaged: Hispanic Heritage Art and Activism
This event is in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month with the purpose of bringing together artists, organizers, and community members to explore the powerful intersection of art and activism. We aim to uplift the voices, experiences, and resilience of immigrant communities – particularly those impacted by detention, deportation, and harmful immigration policies.
The event will take place at a local art gallery in the Paseo Art district of OKC near Flora Bodega, a community hub. Attendees can come-and-go anytime from 6-9pm on Friday, September 4 during the Paseo District's First Friday gallery walk.
Anti-Panhandling Case Headed to the 10th Circuit
On November 19th, our team will be in Denver, CO for oral argument in front of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in McCraw, et al. v. Oklahoma City, our free speech challenge against Oklahoma’s City's anti-panhandling ordinance. This case is about protecting the freedom of speech for Oklahomans.
By Megan Lambert
If State Question 780 is Retroactive, Why Are Only Half of Eligible Oklahomans Being Released?
When Governor Kevin Stitt talks about being a top 10 state, a lot of folks envision a day like Friday, when Oklahoma is set to make history with the largest single-day of commutations in the history of the United States. But I believe when the Governor talks about giving the voters big, meaningful change that centers on best practices rather than politics, as usual, Oklahoma could do more. The Pardon and Parole Board has a chance to give the voters what they’ve asked for, and ensure that all 900 people serving time in prison for charges that today would carry no prison time have a chance at relief. But instead, reporting suggests less than half of the eligible folks will get the chance to return home.
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Encourage Governor Stitt to Sign Tondalao Hall’s Commutation
On October 8th, 2019, Tondalao Hall received a unanimous vote by the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board to recommend her for commutation to Governor Stitt.
5 Years of Marriage Equality in Oklahoma
Sunday, October 6th, marked the five year anniversary of marriage equality in Oklahoma. After a decade of litigation, Bishop v. United States, the landmark civil rights case that overturned Oklahoma’s discriminatory ban on same-sex marriage, finally made its way through the appeals process...
We Created the Current Prison Lockdown
Last weekend, violence at 6 Oklahoma facilities led to 36 people being injured so badly they had to be transported away from prison for treatment, and the death of a 27-year-old man.
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The Real Death Row
As a former capital defense attorney, I visited Oklahoma death row - and death row prisoners - for 25 years. That inside view taught me two things that, at first, surprised me.
Bail Reform Talking Points and FAQs
Money bail is supposed to be used as a mechanism to ensure someone’s reappearance in court.
ACLU of Oklahoma Selects National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Freedom Oklahoma’s Allie Shinn, and Nancy McDonald to Receive 2019 Civil Liberties Awards
The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma has announced its 2019 award winners, which include the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC) and Allie Shinn, Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma, as recipients of the Angie Debo Award. This award is given in recognition and celebration of the courage and tenacity displayed by these groups and individuals in the pursuit of civil liberties.
Statements from the ACLU of Oklahoma on the Passage of Senate Bill 614
SB 614 is based on unproven, unethical research that seeks to undermine a medical procedure at the expense of a person’s safety and medical rights. The ACLU has fought nearly identical legislation to this bill in a number of states.
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