White Christian nationalism is a widespread form of religious extremism in the United States. White Christian nationalists believe in a social hierarchy that supposedly has been ordained by God: the United States is superior to all other nations, Christianity is superior to all other world religions, and the man is the head of the household. At the root of it is a belief by white males of European ancestry that they are superior to all other people and an intolerance of people that are below them on the social hierarchy. The use of force is justified to maintain their social control.

Gov. Kevin Stitt claimed “every square inch” of Oklahoma for Jesus Christ in a public prayer outside the state Capitol upon his reelection in 2022. Stitt signed House Bill 1775 in 2021, which banned the teaching of critical race and gender theory in Oklahoma high schools. This is a rejection of any view of history other than the traditional view of the white European male.

More: White Christian nationalism is a danger to democracy, critics say. Oklahoma is no stranger to the ideology

Christian nationalists embrace capital punishment, which is a means of maintaining social control over people of color and poor people. Samuel Perry, a leading authority on Christian nationalism, has noted that states in which Christian nationalism is strongest have the most executions. The more adults affirm Christian nationalism, the more they are likely to say, “the problem with the death penalty is we don’t use it enough.”

Oklahoma has executed 14 men during Stitt’s administration, second most among U.S. states. All but one were people of color or poor, or a combination thereof. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has recommended clemency for five men, but Stitt has rejected their recommendation four times, granting clemency only for Julius Jones, whose cause gained notoriety and provoked walkouts by high school students in Oklahoma City, Edmond and Tulsa. Stitt appeared to grant clemency grudgingly as a result of political pressure.

In a statement released after Emmanuel Littlejohn’s execution on Sept. 26, 2024, Stitt called himself “a law-and-order governor.” That is an ideological statement that emphasizes harsh enforcement as a means of reducing crime and enforcing social control. Law and order was a slogan used as a racial dog whistle in the 1960s and 1970s as part of the white backlash against the Civil Rights Movement and urban unrest. Stitt’s statement said nothing about Littlejohn’s repentance and his conduct in prison.

James Coddington, Phillip Hancock and Littlejohn would be alive today if Stitt had followed the recommendations for clemency made by the Pardon and Parole Board. Most CEOs follow the recommendations of their boards, but clemency apparently conflicts with Stitt’s view of justice. There is no place in it for mercy and forgiveness for men who have been convicted of violent crimes. It does not matter whether they are changed men, have been model prisoners, have repented of their crimes and have apologized to the victims’ families. Retribution must be carried out.

More: Opinion: Ryan Walters’ Bible choice reflects the preference of Christian fundamentalists

It is ironic that Christian nationalists are more supportive of state violence than any other segment of the American population. Christian nationalists betray the teachings of the Christ they profess to follow, who was not white and not European and created nonviolent communities in which women were leaders. He refused to allow his disciples to take arms to defend him when his own life was threatened. On the cross he forgave those who were crucifying him.

The Rev. Don Heath is minister of Disciples Christian Church in Edmond and the chair of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

Ryan is deputy editor at AllSooners and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City.

Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more.

Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com.

Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.

Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

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The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) have provided details on several Tulsa and surrounding regions’ traffic advisories.

Here’s what you need to know:

Ongoing Highway Closures and Construction Projects in Oklahoma

US-75 narrows at 7th St. daily through Saturday

Northbound US-75 (east leg IDL) will have various lane closures at 7th St. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Saturday due to ongoing bridge rehabilitation.

US-75 off-ramp to 7th St. closed through fall

The northbound US-75 off-ramp to 7th St. (east leg IDL) is closed through fall 2024 for bridge rehabilitation.

I-244 ramp to US-75 closed daily through Saturday

Westbound I-244 ramp to southbound US-75 (northeast corner IDL) is closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Saturday for bridge rehabilitation.

I-244 narrows near US-75 through fall

Eastbound I-244 is narrowed to one lane at the US-75 junction (northeast corner IDL) through fall for bridge rehabilitation.

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Projects

I-44 narrows near Wellston Thursday

Eastbound I-44/Turner Turnpike will be narrowed to one lane at mm 155-156, between Wellston and Luther, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday for surface repairs.

Muskogee Turnpike narrows at US-69 through Oct. 14

Eastbound SH-351/Muskogee Turnpike is narrowed to one lane at the US-69 interchange through Oct. 14 for surface repairs.

I-44 shoulder closures near Heyburn through fall

Shoulder closures will continue on I-44/Turner Turnpike near Heyburn (mm 201-203) through fall, as work progresses on widening the turnpike to six lanes. Motorists should expect reduced speed limits and narrow lanes through the 6-mile work zone.

SH-66 closed near Wellston

Both directions of SH-66 are closed at 7 a.m. Tuesday near Wellston for up to a year due to the I-44/Turner Turnpike bridge widening project.

Ongoing Highway Construction Projects

I-244 remains closed between I-44 and US-75

Pavement rehabilitation on I-244 between I-44 and the Arkansas River continues through spring 2025. Key closures include:

1. Eastbound I-244 lanes and ramps are closed between I-44 and US-75 through September 2024.
2. Westbound I-244 lanes are closed between US-75 and I-44 through spring 2025.
3. I-244 narrows to two lanes between US-75 and the Arkansas River.

Street widening on 33rd W. Ave. at I-44 through fall 2024

Work continues on widening 33rd W. Ave. under I-44. Westbound Skelly Dr. is closed at 33rd W. Ave.

US-412 bridge rehabilitation in Sand Springs through February 2025

US-412 narrows to two lanes in each direction at 81st W. Ave. in Sand Springs as a bridge rehabilitation project continues through February 2025.

US-75 bridge construction at 141st St. in Glenpool through summer 2025

North and southbound US-75 have narrowed lanes and reduced speed limits at 141st St. in Glenpool for bridge construction through summer 2025.

SH-97 pavement rehabilitation in Sand Springs through spring 2025

Pavement reconstruction on SH-97 in Sand Springs continues, with two lanes of traffic maintained during peak hours. SH-97 center turn lanes at US-412 are closed.

SH-51 intersection improvements at 91st St. in Broken Arrow through fall 2024

Intersection improvements at SH-51 and 91st St. in Broken Arrow continue, with reduced speed limits in place through fall 2024.

To view our live Traffic Map, CLICK HERE.

Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and seek alternative routes to avoid delays. For more information and real-time updates, visit the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s website.