Trump Rally Fizzles as Attendance Falls Short of Campaign’s Expectations

THE NEW YORK TIMES: President Trump’s attempt to revive his re-election bid sputtered badly as he traveled to Tulsa for his first mass rally in months but found a small crowd and delivered a disjointed speech.

TULSA, Okla. — President Trump’s attempt to revive his re-election campaign sputtered badly on Saturday night as he traveled to Tulsa for his first mass rally in months and found a far smaller crowd than his aides had promised him, then delivered a disjointed speech that did not address the multiple crises facing the nation or scandals battering him in Washington.

The weakness of Mr. Trump’s drawing power and political skills, in a state that voted for him overwhelmingly and in a format that he favors, raised new questions about his electoral prospects for a second term at a time when his poll numbers were already falling. And rather than speak to the wide cross-section of Americans who say they are concerned about police violence and systemic racism, he continued to use racist language, describing the coronavirus as “Kung Flu.”

While the president’s campaign had claimed that more than a million people had sought tickets for the rally, the 19,000-seat BOK Center was at least one-third empty during the rally. A second, outdoor venue was so sparsely attended that he and Vice President Mike Pence both canceled appearances there. » | Michael D. Shear, Maggie Haberman and Astead W. Herndon | Saturday, June 20, 2020

Donald Trump Holds Rally in Tulsa amid Coronavirus Fears

Ugh ! – Mark

OxyContin Maker Purdue Pharma to Pay $270 Million Legal Settlement That Will Fund Addiction Center

The state of Oklahoma has reached a $270 million agreement with Purdue Pharma—the makers of OxyContin—settling a lawsuit that claimed the company contributed to the deaths of thousands of Oklahoma residents by downplaying the risk of opioid addiction and overstating the drug’s benefits. The state says more Oklahomans have died from opioids over the last decade than have been killed in vehicle accidents. More than $100 million from the settlement will fund a new addiction treatment and research center at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa. “It’s really just the first move in what is a very complicated legal chess game,” says Barry Meier, author of “Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic.” Meier was the first journalist to shine a national spotlight on the abuse of OxyContin. He asks, “Is this money going to be used wisely in terms of treating addiction?”

Powerful Earthquake Rattles US State of Oklahoma

The US state of Oklahoma experienced one of its biggest earthquakes on Saturday. But the magnitude 5.6 tremor may have been due to fracking - a process used to extract gas from deep underground. Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett reports.

Oklahoma Tea Party Candidate Claims: ‘Stoning Gays Was a Law That Came Direct from God’

THE INDEPENDENT: Facebook post quoted biblical verse sanctioning the execution of homosexuals

A Tea Party candidate running for office in Oklahoma has appeared to endorse the practice of stoning gay people to death.

Last year, Scott Esk, who is in the race to represent the 91st district in the State House, responded to a friend’s Facebook post about the Pope’s stance on gay people by copying and pasting Bible verses including Leviticus 20:13, which describes homosexuality as “detestable” and demands gay people be “put to death”.

When asked by another Facebook user whether he supported executing homosexuals by stoning, Mr Esk replied: “That goes against some parts of libertarianism, I realise, and I’m largely libertarian, but ignoring as a nation things that are worthy of death is very remiss.” » | Tim Walker | Los Angeles | Thursday, June 12, 2014

Death Toll Rises After Oklahoma Tornadoes
Emergency Management Director David Barnes talks storm damage

Katastrophengebiet Oklahoma: Mehr als 90 Tote nach Tornado
21.05.2013 - Die Suchaktion in Moore, einem Vorort von Oklahoma City, verlangt den Rettungskräften viel ab: Noch immer werden Dutzende Kinder in einer Grundschule gesucht, die von einem Tornado völlig verwüstet wurde. Einer der schwersten Wirbelstürme der US-Geschichte forderte im US-Bundesstaat Oklahoma mehr als 90 Opfer, mehr als 230 Menschen wurden verletzt.

Tornadoes Wreak Destruction across Oklahoma and the American Midwest
Tornadoes have wreaked havoc across the American midwest, with at least one person killed in Oklahoma.

Read the article here | Monday, May 20, 2013

CAIR Asks Oklahoma Church to Drop Anti-Islamic Agenda

THE SACRAMENTO BEE: CAIR Asks Oklahoma Church to Drop Anti-Islam Agenda » | Council on American-Islamic Relations | Wednesday, March 07, 2012

US Appeals Court Blocks Oklahoma Sharia Law Ban
THE GUARDIAN: Denver court upholds judge's order that claimed Oklahoma's attempt to ban sharia law was unconstitutional

A proposed constitutional amendment that would ban Oklahoma courts from considering international or Islamic law discriminates against religions, a federal appeals court said on Tuesday, as it gave the right to a Muslim community leader to challenge its constitutionality.

The court in Denver upheld US district judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange's order blocking implementation of the amendment shortly after it was approved by 70% of Oklahoma voters in November 2010.

Muneer Awad, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Oklahoma, sued to block the law from taking effect, arguing that the Save Our State Amendment violated his First Amendment rights.

"This is an important reminder that the constitution is the last line of defense against a rising tide of anti-Muslim bigotry in our society, and we are pleased that the appeals court recognised that fact," Awad said. "We are also hopeful that this decision serves as a reminder to politicians wishing to score political points through fear-mongering and bigotry." » | Associated Press | Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Oklahoma Rattled by 5.6 Earthquake
THE GUARDIAN: Homes damaged and roads buckled by series of shocks including the biggest on record in US state

Earthquakes of up to 5.6 magnitude have shaken Oklahoma, damaging buildings and roads and sending a handful of people to hospital.

The first quake was recorded on Saturday morning at a magnitude of 4.7. The second came on Saturday night and is the largest ever recorded in Oklahoma, topping a tremor of 5.5 magnitude in 1952, according to the US Geological Survey.

In Prague, Oklahoma, where the first quake was centred, city manager Jim Greff said part of the town library's ceiling collapsed and a chimney fell through the roof of a home. There were no serious injuries. » | Reuters | Sunday, November 06, 2011

No Respite for US from Deadly Tornadoes
At least six dead as fresh tornadoes hit Oklahoma and Kansas, two days after 122 were killed in city of Joplin

Violent Thunderstorms Kill 8 in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas
THE KANSAS CITY STAR: Violent storms that swept through a swath of the central U.S. killed at least eight people in three states, toppling trees, ripping up homes and crushing cars.

The high-powered storms arrived as forecast, just days after a massive tornado tore through the southwest Missouri town of Joplin and killed 122 people. After killing two people in Kansas and five in Oklahoma, they continued their trek east into Arkansas.

Arkansas Department of Emergency Management spokesman Tommy Jackson says at least one person died after a tornado ripped through the Arkansas community of Denning early Wednesday. There weren't any immediate details about how the person died.

Hours earlier, several tornadoes struck Oklahoma City and its suburbs during the Tuesday night rush hour, killing at least five people and injuring at least 60 others, including three children who were in critical condition, authorities said. » | Kristi Eaton | Associated Press | Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Florida Mosque Bombing Suspect Fatally Shot in Oklahoma
CBS NEWS: ORIENTA, Okla. — A man wanted in the bombing of a Florida mosque was shot and killed Wednesday when he brandished a weapon as agents tried to serve an arrest warrant in northwest Oklahoma, FBI officials said.

Sandlin Matthews Smith, 46, of St. Johns County, Fla., pulled out a firearm as federal and state law enforcement officers approached him in a field at Glass Mountain State Park near Orienta and asked him to surrender, said FBI Special Agent Jeff Westcott of Jacksonville, Fla.

Westcott said agents learned late Tuesday that Smith was staying in a tent in the park, located in the rugged foothills of the Glass Mountains in northwest Oklahoma. An Oklahoma City FBI SWAT team and other law enforcement officers blocked off the area overnight, Westcott said.

Agent Clayton Simmonds at the FBI's Oklahoma City office said Smith was taken to a hospital in Fairview, where he was pronounced dead. » | AP | Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Islamic Law Banned From Courtroom
Council on American-Islamic Relations takes Oklahoma to court



FOX NEWS: Sharia (Islamic Law) Not O.K. in Oklahoma: Oklahoma State Representative Rex Duncan wants to make sure no judge ever uses Sharia (Islamic law) to decide a case in Oklahoma. >>> Douglas Kennedy | Friday, June 25, 2010

Dhimmitude*! Judge Blocks Oklahoma Ban on Sharia Law
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A ban on sharia law that was voted into Oklahoma's state constitution last week has been blocked by a federal judge.

Sharia law is based on the teachings of the Koran and the teachings of the Prophet. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
Voters in the state backed a measure to bar the use of Islamic and international law by 70 per cent to 30 per cent, in a referendum held on the same day as the US midterm elections.

However Muneer Awad, the head of the regional branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, promptly filed a lawsuit against it.

Mr Awad argued that the measure violated the right to religious freedom as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

"Islam was the target of this amendment," Mr Awad said. "This amendment does not have a secular purpose."

Judge Vicki Miles LaGrange granted a temporary restraining order against the measure, in advance of a hearing on November 22. >>> Jon Swaine in New York | Tuesday, November 09, 2010

* My God are these lawyers STUPID! How can Shariah law possibly be compatible with the US Constitution? Or the Bill of Rights? Only a moron such as this judge could possibly give this credence. Fie on her! – © Mark

Islamic Association Seeks to Teach Americans about the Quran
YEMEN OBSERVER: An Islamic Association in Oklahoma has presented an impressive idea for non-Muslims in America to learn more about the faith.

The organization began in 2003 after the unfortunate treatment by American soldiers of the Holy Koran in the Guantanamo Bay prison facility.

The association decided to teach Americans about Islam and Muslims, and they recently decided to print the Holy Quran in English. This English language version will come with explanations of the Holy verses, an introduction to Islam, the fundamental of Islam, and how to deal with Islam. This idea has yielded considerable success, and the organization has raised a lot of contributions from Muslims and non-Muslim Americans. The organization has said they have received many requests from non-Muslim Americans for a copy of the Holy Quran. [Source: Yemen Observer] Observer staff | Saturday, January 31, 2009

Hat tip: Dhimmi Watch >>>

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Parents Outraged Over Baby Doll They Say Mumbles Pro-Islam Words
FOX NEWS: A doll some are claiming utters pro-Islam and even satanic words has outraged some parents in Oklahoma.

People insist they can hear Fisher-Price's "Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Cuddle and Coo" mumbling "Islam is the light" and "Satan is king," according to KJRH.com.

"There's no markings on the box to indicate there's anything Islamic about this doll," said Gary Rofkahr of Owasso, Okla., who was at work when another man brought the toy in to show his colleagues.

Rofkahr said he found various versions of the doll at local Target and Wal-Mart stores, which have since pulled the toys from their shelves, reported KJRH.com.

Fisher-Price and parent company Mattel didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. A Target representative said the company has no plans to recall the doll completely. [Source: Fox News] | October 9, 2008

THE TELEGRAPH: Talking Fisher-Price ‘Little Mommy Cuddle 'n Coo’ Dolls Accused of Promoting Islam

Image of the ‘Little Mommy Cuddle ‘n Coo Doll’ courtesy of The Telegraph
The Fisher-Price Little Mommy Cuddle 'n Coo is meant to make realistic baby sounds and occasionally cry out for its "mama".

But some parents claim that one of its noises sounds just like "Islam is the Light", and have complained to Mattel, which owns Fisher-Price.

Some shops in the US have removed the doll from shelves after complaints from customers, according to reports. It is available in Britain for £19.99.

A spokesman for Fisher-Price insisted that the doll was not pushing pro-Islamic messages, adding that the sound some parents were hearing was caused by an accidental distortion of the doll's soundtrack. >>> By Matthew Moore | October 13, 2008

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