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Hello John. It's Monday, January 19, and today we honor Martin Luther King, Jr.
Over the last few years, MLK Day has taken on new meaning for me as attacks on civil rights have escalated in ways I never expected. Today, we are witnessing a President overstep his power in authorizing unlawful militarization of cities and raids on immigrant communities without due process. [[link removed]] In Oklahoma, Republican candidates for governor are stoking fear of our Muslim neighbors, [[link removed]] not only creating cultural division, but also infringing on First Amendment rights to freedom of religion.
Our state is no stranger to racism. The forced relocation of Native Americans to Oklahoma Territory, the killing of Osage citizens for oil and mineral rights, and the Tulsa Race Massacre stand among the worst moments of racial violence in our nation’s history.
Out of this darkness, our state has also been home to civil rights crusaders who forced progress against all odds. Inspired by Dr. King, Oklahoma teacher Clara Luper and her students proved to the nation that the sit-in movement was a powerful force for equality. Beginning in 1958, Mrs. Luper, her daughter, Marilyn, and a dozen other teenagers began six years of requesting equal service in restaurants across Oklahoma City.
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Mrs. Luper is but one of many brave leaders from our state who have pressed the issue of civil rights: Ralph Ellison, George Perkins, Roscoe Dunjee, Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, Melvin Porter, Hannah Diggs Atkins, Marilyn Luper Hildreth, Viola Ford Fletcher, Lessie Benningfield Randle, and more.
In 1960, Dr. King spoke to a crowd of 1,500 at Calvary Baptist Church in Oklahoma City [[link removed]] . Oklahoma City’s MLK Parade, hosted by the OKC MLK Alliance at 2:00 today, is the third largest in the nation.
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Today, I'm thankful that my children's public school history lessons include the Tulsa Race Massacre and Clara Luper and the Sit-Inners. These events were erased from the history I learned in the 1980s and ‘90s. But, this small progress is not enough.
In Oklahoma in 2026, we continue to overincarcerate Brown and Black citizens. Significant wage disparities still exist for people of color and for women. Health outcomes for minorities are far poorer than for white citizens. And, now, Republican gubernatorial candidates are overtly racially attacking our Muslim neighbors.
As Dr. King said, “human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”
As Oklahoma Democrats, let us be inspired today to continue our work for a better Oklahoma – a place where ALL people thrive.
Together,
Erin
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PS. In observance of the holiday, ODP HQ will be closed. We will re-open Tuesday January 20th.
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