Statement from Sen. Kevin Matthews, Vice Chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus, concerning the fatal shooting of Eric Harris by Tulsa County reserve deputy Robert Bates on April 2. The incident took place in Senate District 11, which Sen. Matthews represents.
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Sen. Kevin Matthews released the following statement Monday afternoon following the resignation of Tulsa County Undersheriff Tim Albin. A 2009 internal review found that Albin had asked employees to modify reviews and training documentation for the reserve deputy, Robert Bates. Bates shot Eric Harris on April 2 saying he mistook his handgun for a stun gun. The incident took place in Senate District 11, which Sen. Matthews represents.
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Oklahoma’s first African American State Senator and civil rights leader, E. Melvin Porter, was recognized on Wednesday afternoon in the Senate chamber with a resolution authored by Sens. Anastasia Pittman, David Holt and Kevin Matthews. Senate Resolution 36 was presented on the Senate floor to Porter, who was accompanied by his family.
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Oklahoma’s reserve law enforcement officers would be required to complete additional CLEET certified training each year under a new bill passed in the Senate on Thursday morning, according to the bill’s author, Sen. Ralph Shortey.
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OKLAHOMA CITY Sen. Kevin Matthews believes citizens absolutely have the right to protect themselves when their lives or their loved ones are in immediate danger. However, he does not feel that people should be able to use the law as a defense when they provoke a violent situation or had other options available to them, such as calling the police, to avoid using force.
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After recently announcing plans to create a $10,000 endowed scholarship at Langston University honoring E. Melvin Porter, Oklahoma’s first black member of the state Senate, the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus announced Tuesday that Langston University is now accepting donations.
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Members of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus issued the following statement Wednesday in reaction to reports of an incident at last week’s CareerTech Summer Conference in Oklahoma City alleging a retiring black educator who was to be recognized for his service was presented with a white robe, hood, and Confederate flag. After the incident, attendees reportedly were told not to speak about it and to erase any cell phone video.

An education fair and 5K to raise funds and awareness to aid Oklahomans with sickle cell disease (SCD) will be held at the Oklahoma State Capitol this coming Saturday, September 17 at 9 a.m. The event is sponsored by the organization Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease as part of National Sickle Cell Awareness month.

Sen. Kevin Matthews, chair of the Oklahoma Black Caucus, said the 5K will help call attention to SCD which affects up to 100,000 Americans, including 1,500 here in Oklahoma. Another 40,000 in the state may unknowingly carry the genetic trait. read more.

Members of the Senate Health and Human Services met Tuesday to hear from local healthcare organizations about the importance of the health center uncompensated care fund (UCF) to the health and well-being of Oklahomans. The Oklahoma Department of Health stopped distributing payments to federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) for health care to the uninsured following the second mid-year revenue failure but resumed payments for services rendered in July.
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Nearly half of Oklahoma counties, 32 of the 77, are considered food urban/rural deserts where citizens have limited or no access to fresh food and produce. One of those areas is north Tulsa, and Sen. Kevin Matthews requested an interim study to find ways to help his district and others around the state through the use of urban gardens.
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