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Sen. Young recognized as Legislator of the year by OEA, a so-called “terrorist organization”

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, released the following statement Monday after he was awarded the Legislator of the Year award from the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA).

“I must report that I received an award from a terrorist organization. Well, at least from an organization that was designated as a terrorist organization by a duly elected state official. I have not seen any notices from the FBI, CIA, OSBI or the state troopers who are by and large, at least the ones who serve at the state Capitol who would have let me know that I was in some sort of danger, because they do an excellent job of securing our Capitol.

“I attended the presentation where I was awarded the distinction of being the Oklahoma Education Association’s ‘Legislator of the Year.’ They seemed like a very warm and good bunch of upstanding Oklahomans. This ‘designated’ terrorist organization, by all accounts, is not committed to clandestine operations or doing harm to the infrastructure of the state of Oklahoma, and quite the contrary, in my opinion, along with the opinion of many other hard working and dutiful Oklahomans, is a beneficial part of society.

“Fact is, the organization that gave me the award has many of my friends, my goddaughter, and fellow church members as part of their membership. This organization exists to help support the building of sound minds and quality of life for our children and they do it at a great sacrifice. We have caused them great pain by not giving them the support that they truly need to do the job that by any measure is one of most significant work. It is done daily; and yes, this includes time throughout the summer educating our children.

“The horrific reference that was made by our superintendent of public instruction is a slap in the face to hard working teachers, support staff, administrative staff, and to each person who has been prepared for life by our public education system. OEA is just one of the organizations that represent our teachers to help make sure we have quality in the classroom. They are not a terrorist organization. As I accepted my award from them, I told them to fight on to educate our children and to work to make Oklahoma better. I pray for our leaders who speak words of deceit and lies to foment division and create dissension. God bless not only him, but also them. Thank you OEA for the continued work of creating an environment of quality public education for all.”

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For more information, contact: Sen. George Young at 405-521-5531 or email George.Young@oksenate.gov