Measure to create Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail signed into law

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill highlighting Oklahoma’s contributions to the Civil Rights Movement has been signed into law. Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, and Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, are the Senate principal authors of Senate Bill 509, creating the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail, and the House principal authors are Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City.

“We are deeply grateful and absolutely elated to see this bill become law. Oklahoma played a tremendous role in the Civil Rights Movement and this will help us tell that story to our citizens, the nation and the world,” Matthews said. “I want to thank Senator Coleman, Representatives Lowe and Luttrell, our fellow members and Governor Stitt for their support of this important and historic legislation.”

Oklahoma originally had more than 50 Black towns, 13 of which still exist today. SB 509 will connect all-Black towns and locations significant to the Civil Rights Movement, including many Native American sites of historical significance, stimulating tourism, fostering entrepreneurship, and promoting economic development within these communities. The legislation creates the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail revolving fund, which will be administered by the Oklahoma Historical Society, into which state and federal funds as well as gifts and donations will be deposited to provide grant funding for the development of the trail and related attractions.

“I was so honored to be a part of this legislation, which recognizes both our African American and Native American heroes and their roles in supporting the equality of all human beings, as proclaimed by our founders in the Declaration of Independence,” Coleman said. “This bill will ensure the history of Oklahoma’s role in the Civil Rights Movement will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.”

The Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail will begin at Standing Bear Park, Museum and Education Center in Ponca City, then proceed to the site of the 1920s “Osage Reign of Terror,” in Fairfax. The trail will continue through the state’s all-Black communities, which include Boley; Brooksville; Clearview; Grayson; Langston; Lima; Red Bird; Rentiesville; Summit; Taft; Tatums; Tullahassee; and Vernon. The trail will then move to Greenwood Rising and the Pathway to Hope in Tulsa before ending at the Clara Luper Center, to be constructed in Oklahoma City.

“This is truly a historic piece of legislation. Black history is Oklahoma history. The Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail will connect all-Black towns and locations significant to the Civil Rights Movement, including many Native American sites of historical significance,” Lowe said.

"It was an honor to work on this bipartisan legislation with Senators Coleman, Matthews, Representative Lowe and others to create grants to fund the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail, which will start in my hometown, Ponca City,” Luttrell said. “This not only will give visitors a deeper look into the history of our state, but as has been shown nationally with other such trails, it should increase tourism and positive interest in Oklahoma. I'm glad to see this signed into law."  

SB 509 takes effect on July 1, 2023.

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For more information, contact:

Sen. Matthews at 405-521-5598, or Kevin.Matthews@oksenate.gov

Sen. Coleman at 405-521-5581, or Bill.Coleman@oksenate.gov

CUTLINE:  Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, and Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, principal Senate authors of SB 509, creating the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail, which has been signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt.