Oklahoma has been a state that not only leaves behind the Palestinian and Muslim community but has historically passed violent anti-Palestinian and Islamaphobic legislation on a local, state, and federal level.

That needs to stop now.

Today, not a single Oklahoma member of Congress has yet co-sponsored Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s Bill: the Palestinian Children and Families Act, that ensures our tax dollars aren’t used by Israel to cage Palestinian children, demolish Palestinian homes, and steal Palestinian land. Quite the contrary, all Oklahoma congressional leaders helped make up 75% of the members of Congress that signed Rep. Ted Deutch’s letter, a commitment to sustain Israel’s ethnic cleansing and inhumane brutality against the Palestinian people, unequivocally. Rep. Deutch’s letter that opposes any conditioning of US aid to Israel -- was in reaction to Rep. McCollum’s historic bill that could finally center Palestinian human rights.

U.S. Representatives from Oklahoma: Stephanie Bice, Tom Cole, Kevin Hern, Markwayne Mullin, Frank Lucas & Senators James Lankford, and Jim Inhofe support the unconditional U.S. aid of 3.8 billion taxpayer dollars to Israel and their state-sanctioned violence. They continue to discard the rights of the Palestinian people and have yet to condemn Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians in just the last few weeks specifically in Sheikh Jarrah, Jerusalem, and Gaza.

Within East occupied Jerusalem, 21 Palestinian families in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods are being forcefully displaced from their homes by Jewish settlers who are protected by the Israeli government. This comes from a long history of Zionist occupation and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Palestinians who are protesting against dispossession and displacement face extreme violence by Israeli settlers and forces. Masjid Al-Aqsa is the third holiest site for Muslims, a mosque with a number of virtues and a wealth of history. In the holiest month of the year, Ramadan, Israeli forces violently entered Masjid Al-Aqsa as defenseless worshippers prayed in peace. They stormed a sacred space with U.S.-funded weapons and bombs, injuring over 200 Palestinians. Palestinians deserve basic human rights, dignity, and the right to live and worship in freedom.

Oklahoma State Legislators like Rep. Mark McBride, Speaker Pro Temp Terry O'Donnell, and Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols have introduced and passed HR 1037 which signifies Oklahoman support for Israel and the Israeli military. It is a statement that enables violence towards the Palestinian people.

During this session, the Governor signed a series of legislation that enables the criminalization of protestors for speaking out in public meetings (SB 403), running over protestors (HB 1674) , and bans dialogue addressing the history of racism and white supremacy (HB 1775). The legislation allows the government to criminalize, incarcerate, and silence activists and students who utilize their civil rights to criticize racist and xenophobic actions. Activists are currently facing the consequences. In the midst of ongoing violence against Palestinians, activists cannot express their advocacy without the risk of being criminalized.

It’s time to draw a line in the mud, Oklahoma leaders are either with justice and freedom for all or they are not.

Governments and people across the world have denounced Israel for their actions. Residents across this nation clearly see the violence, the apartheid state, and a settler-colonial regime that Palestinians are experiencing. We call on Oklahoma representatives to condemn the violence that Israeli forces are inflicting on peaceful Palestinians. We cannot stand by as Palestinians are expelled from their homes and subjected to assault and violation We must stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people against the persecution and occupation they face under Israeli apartheid.

I ask you to sign our petition asking the following:

1. Condemn Israel’s state-sanctioned violence against the Palestinian people.

2. Join their Congressional peers in calling on Secretary of State Tony Blinken to immediately intervene to stop Israel’s illegal expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan.

3. End U.S. military aid to Israel. And co-sponsor Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s Bill: the Palestinian Children and Families Act

4. Protect our right to freedom of speech and the right to boycott/BDS.

We, the co-signatories, call on our National and Local Elected Officials below:

President Joe Biden

Vice-President Kamala Harris

Senator Jim Inhofe

Senator James Lankford

Congresswoman Stephanie Bice

Congressman Tom Cole

Congressman Kevin Hern

Congressman Markwayne Mullin

Congressman Frank Lucas

Governor Kevin Stitt

House Speaker Charles McCall

Senate President Pro Temp Greg Treat

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt

Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum

A growing number of members of Elected officials outside of Oklahoma are speaking out against Israel's use of US funds towards oppressing Palestinians. And we expect Oklahoma Leadership to do the same -- stand for justice, freedom, and liberation for all people. Israel must be held accountable for ongoing violence and oppression against the Palestinian people. Without consequences, Israel will continue to steal Palestinian land and water and harm Palestinian children and families.

This petition uses language and content created by fellow organizers in Florida. Please consider sharing and uplifting this message as well.