Oklahoma
‘No Kings!’ protest draws 1,000s to downtown Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY – A large group joined a march from Scissortail Park to City Hall on a rainy Saturday morning to peacefully protest Trump’s “birthday celebration” featuring a large military parade in Washington, D.C.
The D.C. parade was intended to honor the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, but that purpose was overshadowed by the focus on Trump.
At the NO KINGS rally in Oklahoma City, several made speeches about their objections to the current practices of ICE, the recent sending of the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, and the military parade in Washington, D.C., for what the crowd considered to be mostly about Trump’s birthday and not for the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army.
Indivisible OKC and 50501 organized the protest in Oklahoma. These groups also organized the “Hands Off!” protest that happened in April of this year.
Rory Bell, organizer for 50501 OK and state representative of PolRev (Political Revolution), was the first speaker to make the introduction to the pro-democracy crowd.
“We gather here not out of fear, but out of courage. Not out of hate, but out of love. Love for our communities, our neighbors, and the promise of democracy,” she began.
To Bell, this protest sends a clear message: “We don’t bow to wanna-be kings. This is America, and here, the people rule.”
She continued, “We’re part of a growing movement of everyday folks across the country. We are parents, we are veterans, students, workers, who are standing up to say: Enough. Enough of the power grabs. Enough of the lies. Enough of the attacks on our rights, our votes, and our voices.”
A speaker was introduced as “Nina”. She said, “Let’s be clear what we’re demanding. Not from one party, but from anyone who seeks to hold power in this country. We demand that people who seek to hold power in this country uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.”
“We demand to protect free and fair elections,” said Nina. “That means stopping voter suppression, that means stopping the intimidation and manipulation of our electoral system. We demand they defend our civil rights and civil liberties for all.”
“That means no to racism, that means no to xenophobia, that means no to transphobia, that means no to targeting people for their politics or their identities. We demand freedom of speech, protest, press, and equal protection under the law for everyone,” she stated.
Nina concluded, “…and we demand that they keep the military out of politics. Our troops swore an oath to the Constitution, not to any man, not to any political agenda. We say no to authoritarian displays in uniform and no lavish marches for tin-pot kings.”
Free Press spoke to protesters on the ground at the event.
Veteran speaks out
One protester lining up for the march from Scissortail Park to City Hall, Steven Vincent, is a veteran.
“I’m here today because I took an oath, when I joined the military, to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” said Vincent. “I feel like America is on the precipice of a very dangerous situation with Trump in office. I think he’s a clear and present danger to our democracy and our Constitution, and I’m here to show that American patriots should be out protesting his policies and his people.”
‘Freedom is at risk’
Mandy Meyers told us what brought her out to the protest today.
“Well, as my sign says, there are too many things to put on my sign. Freedom is at risk right now. I do believe we are entering a civil war,” said Meyers. “I really feel like we should be ready and not afraid. I think that Trump wants us to be afraid, and we are bigger than he is. There are way more Americans, way more people in the world that support us and want us to have freedom for everyone, immigrants, gays, trans, I don’t care what color you are, we all bleed red.
I work in healthcare, I see blood every day, everyone is red, and that is the bottom line. Honestly, this brings tears and joy standing here and seeing everyone coming together. I feel like our country has been so split for the last several years. To stand here, and actually see our American flags hasn’t had more meaning to me right now since it has since 9/11.”
‘Defending democracy’
Carlitos Corazon told Free Press, “I’m out here defending democracy, looking out for marginalized people. I don’t like the way some people are being used as scapegoats in our society to basically give permission to billionaires to do what they want and have free reign. I know that’s not the America I believe in. That’s why I’m here.”
Victor Ward also attended the event and shared his perspective.
“My wife has been to several of these, and I decided to come with her today,” Ward said. “It’s well worth it, big crowd, everything is very nice, nothing bad going on, and we have something to say to the President of the United States right now.”
Ward continued, “For me, he is not the President. He has made so many statements that are lies, he’s talked about so many things that Biden has done, which are so bad, which is another lie. He’s not for the American people as it has been for the past 200 years. He’s got his own agenda, and he wants to be a dictator, and at this point, he is, and he has a lot of people behind him. This is not what a majority of people want.”
“I’ve been in the service, I’ve spent my time, unlike ‘Bone-Spurs,’ and I’m very proud to be here, Ward told us. There’s a lot of things that could be done with somebody else in that position around the Oval Office. And I hope in the next four years there will be.”
Asked what he wants to see the protests accomplish, he said, “Let the president and his supporters see just exactly what’s going on, that we are not happy with what the President is doing with all of his shenanigans. He’s got a huge ego.”
Alex Gatley covers labor activities in the state of Oklahoma.
Putnam City West High School will shift to virtual learning on Tuesday after an incident involving two students prompted an investigation by the district and Oklahoma City police, according to Putnam City Schools.
District officials said administrators were alerted near the end of the school day Monday to an altercation involving two students in the school’s arena area.
Officials said the students left campus, and the case was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for investigation.
District officials said no students or staff were harmed and there is no ongoing safety threat related to the incident.
What we know
Putnam City West sent the following email to all families and staff at the school:
All PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st.
Today, an isolated serious incident involving two students occurred on school grounds. Near the end of the school day, administrators were alerted to an altercation between two students in the arena area. The individuals involved quickly left campus, prompting an initial fact-finding response by school administrators before the matter was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for further investigation. Because this is an active investigation involving students, no further information will be released at this time.
We understand this information may be concerning to students, staff, and families. Please know we are committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for all students. At Putnam City Schools, student and staff safety remains our highest priority. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution and to allow for a thorough investigation, all PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st. Students will need to check Google Classroom for updates from teachers.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of PC West.
Putnam City Schools
All students and staff at Putnam City West will transition to virtual learning on Tuesday, April 21, while investigators continue their work, according to the district.
Students were told to check Google Classroom for instructions from teachers.
The district said it is withholding additional details because the case involves students and remains under investigation.
School officials have not said what triggered the incident or whether any arrests have been made.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as more information becomes available.
TULSA, OKLA (KTUL) — A new program in Oklahoma is giving adults another way to finish high school by allowing them to use past credits and test scores to earn a diploma, an option officials say could help thousands of people and strengthen the state’s workforce.
For years, adults in Oklahoma who did not finish high school largely had one main option: earning a GED. Now, Oklahoma CareerTech is rolling out the Career Readiness Diploma, a pathway designed to build on what students have already completed rather than requiring them to start over.
“So in Oklahoma right now, if you look at the demographics, we have about 279,000 people in our state without a high school diploma. So it’s almost 10% of our population doesn’t have a high school diploma,” said Lance Allee, an adult education and family literacy specialist with Oklahoma CareerTech.
Allee said the program allows adults to apply previously earned high school credit and combine different assessment scores into a single record to qualify for a diploma.
“It allows the student to use previously earned high school credit. So, it’s kind of like a portfolio where you can take multiple assessment scores and put them into one portfolio to get your high school diploma,” Allee said.
The program is open to adults 21 and older. In some cases, officials said, participants can finish in just weeks, depending on how many credits they already have.
CareerTech officials say the program is also aimed at improving job prospects for individuals while helping Oklahoma remain competitive when attracting employers.
“When you’re a company and you’re looking at moving into Oklahoma, you look at the demographics and say, is there a workforce there that we can employ? And you say, well, about 10% of the population doesn’t have a diploma, they may start looking at states that surround us. So, we definitely want to get as many diplomas out there as we can,” Allee said.
The program started issuing diplomas in recent weeks, and officials said dozens more people are already in the process. For more information or to sign up click here.
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NORMAN — Cord Rager’s return comes at a pivotal time for Skip Johnson’s Oklahoma Sooners. Not only do they get their day three starter back in time for big road matchups against Auburn and Arkansas on the horizon, but the Sooners pitching strength, their rotational depth, is primed and ready for the test.
The freshman lefty finished with eight strikeouts and only gave up one hit in only 65 pitches before his day ended in the sixth.
No. 14 Oklahoma earn its first conference sweep of the season, defeating Missouri 8-4. It was OU’s fourth conference series win.
Oklahoma (27-12, 10-8) put their best foot forward as they turn the page to the meat of their schedule where they will do battle against No. 13, No. 20 and No. 16 over the next three weeks — two of those series’ on the road.
Four runs in five hits in the second got things rolling for the Sooners.
Camden Johnson continued his brilliant play of late with a triple in the second. This came after a Brenden Brock solo home run to put OU up 1-0. Deiten LaChance grounded out to short but scored Johnson. Dasan Harris and and Nolan Stevens each found home before the inning ended.
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OU found fortune from the plate again in the fourth. Four runs off of four hits highlighted by a three-run home run by Johnson put Oklahoma up 8-0. It was Johnson’s seventh home run of the season, second on the team behind Brock’s nine.
Trent Collier got the nod in the sixth to relieve Rager.
In the seventh, Missouri finally got on the board for the first time since the ninth inning of Friday night’s Sooner victory. Cam Durnin hit a solo shot — his fourht of the season — to make the score 8-1 in favor of the home team.
The Tigers got their third hit of the game shortly after. From there, Collier’s short day was done. Gavyn Jones came on to relieve
LaChance missed a home run by inches when Tiger center fielder Kaden Peer made a leaping catch, jumping into the fence.
In the eighth, the Tigers continued to chip away. With bases loaded, Blaze Ward hit a basehit to score two Missouri base runners. OU led 8-3 heading into the final inning.
Harris led the Sooners with three hits. His day was accented by an RBI, stolen base and a run.
Oklahoma will travel to Auburn to take on the No. 13 Tigers for a three game series starting on Friday. Before that, they will host Oral Roberts for a midweek game at Kimrey Family Stadium in Norman. The Sooners won 4-0 against ORU earlier this season.
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