Future of African-American Heritage Plaza in Question?

Thursday, April 2 was the last day that the Senate could hear an important bill to honor African-American heritage said Representative Mike Shelton. His and Senator Connie Johnson's bill, HB2125, would have extended the fundraising deadline for completing theAfrican-American Heritage Plaza.

However, the Senate leader, Sen. Glenn Coffee, refused to hear the bill. Senate leadership was asked specifically why they did not want to hear the bill they reported said, (they) don't believe such display should be on the capitol grounds.

Senator Shelton went on to say "HB2125 would cost the state absolutely nothing. It would harm absolutely no one. There is no reason for Sen. Coffee not to hear this bill unless he wants to willfully ignore the history of African-Americans in our great state."

Concerning HB2125, Senator Connie Johnson says, "While the bill did not come out of committee (technically it is still alive and available to be heard next year-but justice delayed is justice denied), the concept is still alive and well, and can be placed in another bill at some point, however, we will still face the same sources of opposition, the most significant of which was Sen. Mike Johnson, Senate Appropriations Chair, who refused to hear the bill in appropriations."

Further she said, "Mr. Johnson's reasons for not hearing the bill were that he felt such a display belonged elsewhere other than the capitol grounds (where every other culture in Oklahoma at the time of statehood is represented). He felt we should raise the money first and then ask for the site-we told him and he knows that is not the way this works."

Senator Connie Johnson went on to say everyone needs to be aware of the need to strategize and to offer such strategies to her office.

Forrest Lee says even though the bill failed to make it out of committee, you are urged to contact Senator Glenn Coffee and Senator Mike Johnson to let them know that these tactics are not going unnoticed, or tolerated. You can reach them at:

Senator Glenn Coffee
405.521.5799 or 1.800.865.6490
coffee@oksenate.gov

Senator Mike Johnson
405.521.5592johnsonm@oksenate.gov

Source. PII Newsletter (contact at PRIVILEGEDINFO@COXINET.NET)