Judge Finally Orders Injunction on Oklahoma’s Anti-CRT Law
As The Oklahoman reported, more than 2½ years after the lawsuit initially was filed, a federal judge in Oklahoma City issued a temporary injunction Friday that keeps the state from enforcing parts of House Bill 1775, which bans the teaching of certain racial and gender topics in Oklahoma classrooms.
U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin’s order said until the full case is decided, the state could not enforce parts of HB 1775, including a section prohibiting higher education institutions from presenting race or sex stereotyping or bias in required classes or orientations.
The injunction also applies to a part of the law that prohibits schools from teaching that people should be discriminated against because of their race or sex. Another section that can’t be enforced says schools can’t teach that “members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex.”
The bill’s proponents argued it would prevent teaching white children they were inherently racist; opponents said it would prevent teaching historical facts and race-centered literature.
More worth reading:
How Parent Care Challenges Careers
Tens of millions of Americans are straining under the burden of two jobs: the work they’re paid to do, and the task of providing care for older family members. Kim Moser, who manages a research lab at the University of Oklahoma while also caring for her 83-year-old mother-in-law, is among them. [WSJ]
Trump Highway has no Trump Flags
In an opinion piece that reads more like a feature story, University of Michigan historian Scott Ellsworth wrote about his visit to Cimarron County and how voters there are thinking about November’s presidential election. [NYT]
Casino Gambling Growth to Continue
An expert at last week’s Sovereignty Symposium told attendees Oklahoma’s casino business will continue to grow. The state already has 28% of tribal gaming operations in the United States and more than 16% of U.S. gaming revenue. [Tulsa World]
Tulsa Race Massacre Lawsuit Dismissed
The Oklahoma Supreme Court last week dismissed a lawsuit brought by two of the last-known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, who sought reparations for the attack. [WSJ]
Happy 47th birthday to country music star Blake Shelton, born in Ada on this day in 1976.
Ciao for now,
Ted Streuli
Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch
tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org
