
Black Emergency Response Team v. O'Connor
What's at Stake
On October 19, 2021 the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Oklahoma, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and pro bono counsel Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP filed a lawsuit challenging an Oklahoma classroom censorship bill, HB 1775, which severely restricts public school teachers and students from learning and talking about race and gender in the classroom.
Summary
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of plaintiffs the Black Emergency Response Team (BERT); the University of Oklahoma Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (OU-AAUP); the Oklahoma State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP-OK); the American Indian Movement (AIM) Indian Territory on behalf of itself and its members who are public school students and teachers, a high school student, and Oklahoma public high school teachers Anthony Crawford and Regan Killackey.
The Oklahoma bill’s lead authors in the state House and Senate declared the bill’s intent was to prohibit conversations related to “implicit bias,” “systemic racism” and “intersectionality,” among other concepts. The lawsuit argues HB 1775 is an unlawful restraint on freedom of expression by silencing students’ and educators’ speech through its vague and overbroad terms. It also intentionally targets and denies access to equitable, culturally relevant teaching and ideas that reflect the history and lived experiences of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; women and girls; and LGBTQ+ students.
This lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.
Legal Documents
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11/09/2021
Amended Complaint -
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Exhibit 1 - Edmond Public Schools Written Guidance -
Exhibit 2 - Edmond Public Schools ELA Guidance
Black Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 1 - Edmond Public Schools Written GuidanceCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 2 - Edmond Public Schools ELA GuidanceCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
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10/29/2021
Motion & Memorandum Supporting Preliminary Injunction -
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Exhibit 1 - HB 1775 -
Exhibit 2 - HB 1775 Emergency Rules -
Exhibit 3 - BERT Declaration -
Exhibit 4 - AAUP Declaration -
Exhibit 5 - NAACP-Oklahoma Declaration -
Exhibit 6 - American Indian Movement Declaration -
Exhibit 7 - S.L. Declaration -
Exhibit 8 - Anthony Crawford Declaration -
Exhibit 9 - Regan Killackey Declaration -
Exhibit 10 - Marvin Lynn Declaration
Black Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 1 - HB 1775Court: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 2 - HB 1775 Emergency RulesCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 3 - BERT DeclarationCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 4 - AAUP DeclarationCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 5 - NAACP-Oklahoma DeclarationCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 6 - American Indian Movement DeclarationCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 7 - S.L. DeclarationCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 8 - Anthony Crawford DeclarationCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 9 - Regan Killackey DeclarationCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 10 - Marvin Lynn DeclarationCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
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11/23/2021
OU Regents' Brief in Support of its Motion to Dismiss -
11/23/2021
Edmond Defendants' Brief in Support of its Motion to Dismiss -
11/23/2021
Defendants' (1–18) Answer to Amended Complaint -
12/16/2021
OU Regents' Response & Objection to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
12/16/2021
OU Regents' Motion & Brief to Strike Plaintiffs' Affidavits -
12/16/2021
Edmond Defendants’ Objection to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
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Exhibit 1 - Affidavit of Emily Steele -
Exhibit 2 - Affidavit of Jacqueline Rasnic
Black Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 1 - Affidavit of Emily SteeleCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 2 - Affidavit of Jacqueline RasnicCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
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12/16/2021
OU Regents' Response in Opposition to Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
12/16/2021
Defendants' (1–18) Response in Opposition to Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
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Exhibit 1 - Arkansas Attorney General Opinion -
Exhibit 2 - Montana Attorney General Opinion -
Exhibit 3 - Affidavit of James Taylor -
Exhibit 4 - Affidavit of Janet Barresi -
Exhibit 5 - HB 1775 Vote Record -
Exhibit 6 - Affidavit of Calvin Jones -
Exhibit 7 - NEA Guide
Black Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 1 - Arkansas Attorney General OpinionCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 2 - Montana Attorney General OpinionCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 3 - Affidavit of James TaylorCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 4 - Affidavit of Janet BarresiCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 5 - HB 1775 Vote RecordCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 6 - Affidavit of Calvin JonesCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 7 - NEA GuideCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
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01/13/2022
Plaintiffs' Reply in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
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Exhibit 1 - Second BERT Declaration -
Exhibit 2 - John Doe Declaration -
Exhibit 3 - EPS 2019 English Curriculum
Black Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 1 - Second BERT DeclarationCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 2 - John Doe DeclarationCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 3 - EPS 2019 English CurriculumCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download Document -
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01/13/2022
Plaintiffs' Response in Opposition to OU Regents' Motion to Dismiss -
01/13/2022
Plaintiffs' Response in Opposition to EPS Defendants' Motion to Dismiss -
01/13/2022
Plaintiffs' Response in Opposition to OU Regents' Motion to Strike Plaintiffs' Affidavits -
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Exhibit 1 - Second BERT Declaration -
Exhibit 2 - John Doe Declaration -
Exhibit 3 - EPS 2019 English Curriculum
Black Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 1 - Second BERT DeclarationCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 2 - John Doe DeclarationCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 3 - EPS 2019 English CurriculumCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download Document -
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01/20/2022
OU Regents Defendants' Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss -
01/20/2022
Edmond Defendants' Reply to in Support of Motion to Dismiss -
08/25/2022
Plaintiffs' Supplemental Submission in Support of their Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
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Exhibit 1 - OSDE Letter -
Exhibit 2 - Aug. 6, 2022 Tulsa World Article -
Exhibit 3 - TPS Letter
Black Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 1 - OSDE LetterCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 2 - Aug. 6, 2022 Tulsa World ArticleCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentBlack Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 3 - TPS LetterCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download Document -
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09/07/2022
Defendants' (1–18) Response to Plaintiffs' Supplemental Submission -
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Exhibit 1 - Mustange Privilege Walk
Black Emergency Response Team v. O'ConnorLegal DocumentsExhibit 1 - Mustange Privilege WalkCourt: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download Document -
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09/14/2022
Plaintiffs' Reply to Defendants' Response to Supplemental Submission in Support of Preliminary Injunction -
01/04/2023
Plaintiffs' Motion for Leave to Conduct Limited Discovery -
01/25/2023
State Defendants' Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings -
01/25/2023
State Defendants' Response to Plaintiffs' Motion to Conduct Limited Discovery -
02/01/2023
Plaintiffs' Reply in Support of their Motion for Limited Discovery -
02/24/2023
Plaintiffs' Response to State Defendants' Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings -
03/03/2023
State Defendants' Reply in Support of their Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings -
09/28/2023
Plaintiffs' Motion to Expedite Consideration of Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction and for Leave to Conduct Limited Discovery -
10/16/2023
Order Denying Defendants' Motion to Strike Declarations -
10/19/2023
Order Denying Defendants' Motion to Strike New Evidence
Date Filed: 11/09/2021
Court: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
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Download DocumentDate Filed: 01/13/2022
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Download DocumentDate Filed: 08/25/2022
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Download DocumentDate Filed: 09/14/2022
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Download DocumentDate Filed: 01/04/2023
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Download DocumentDate Filed: 03/03/2023
Court: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 09/28/2023
Court: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 10/16/2023
Court: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentDate Filed: 10/19/2023
Court: District Court (W.D. Okla.)
Download DocumentPress Releases
Oklahoma’s Classroom Censorship Act is Unconstitutional and Remains a Threat to our First and 14th Amendment Rights
ACLU, ACLU of Oklahoma, Lawyers Committee File Lawsuit Challenging Oklahoma Classroom Censorship Bill Banning Race and Gender Discourse