Oklahoma ACLU Responds To SAE Racist Video

Tuesday afternoon members of the Oklahoma American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released a statement in response to the OU Sigma Alpha Epsilon racist video.

Ryan Kiesel, ACLU of Oklahoma Executive Director:

"While the facts continue to unfold regarding the recent expulsions and continued investigations, we are closely monitoring the situation and urge the University to keep its attention focused on the larger issues of racism on the University of Oklahoma campus.

"Universities are one of the primary battlegrounds for learning about free speech and understanding how to combat bigotry. The best antidote to hateful speech is the exercise of peaceful speech in return. We have seen remarkable examples of students, faculty, administrators, and Oklahomans from all over the state join together in rallies, prayer vigils, and online forums to express their disgust at the racist chant and to call for a meaningful conversation about race and prejudice in all areas of campus life. We applaud their many voices and encourage them to continue the necessary and promising conversation about fighting prejudice and racism."

Brady Henderson, ACLU of Oklahoma Legal Director:

"It is critical that any disciplinary actions by the University of Oklahoma are not viewed as magic bullets to cure the deeply embedded problems of racism and bigotry that this scandal has brought to light. Punishment alone does not change the hearts and minds of those we punish, or others like them. This is a teaching moment that requires a consistent commitment to honest and open dialogue that does not stop at simply punishing those who spew hate and prejudice on video, but rather, combats the core of that hate and prejudice. The University of Oklahoma has an opportunity to engage in just such a dialogue, and we need to ensure that we don't miss that opportunity in the rush to punish racist speech." 

3/10/2015 Related Story:OU President David Boren Expels 2 Students Related To Racist Video