News outlets have reported that some 350 organizations are calling for the impeachment of state Superintendent Ryan Walters. In their letter submitted to state lawmakers, the petitioners cited Walters for helping to create a “culture of violence and hate against the 2SLGBTQI+ community in Oklahoma schools.” This is particularly sensitive in light of the recent death of Owasso student Nez Benedict, who had been a victim of harassment and bullying at school.
The OU Daily reported that some lawmakers have made statements in support of scrutinizing Walters’ performance as superintendent. According to House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, for example, “It is not a coincidence that violence and pain toward minority communities has only snowballed under his leadership.” She added, “When you discriminate against some Oklahomans, you discriminate against all Oklahomans.”
State Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, voiced support for the letter calling for Walters’ impeachment on X/Twitter.
The letter/petition remains available for signature on the Human Rights Watch website, hrc.org, and that of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, au.org.
While this petition specifically focuses on Walters’ responsibility for “creating the hostile environment that contributed to the death of Nex [Benedict],” there are other reasons for the state Legislature to seriously scrutinize Walters’ performance since he was elected to office.
A more comprehensive list of grievances might include the following:
1. Walters’ ongoing attempts to insert a particular religious perspective into our public schools, which is unconstitutional and discriminatory against students/staff with other faith perspectives;
2. Walters’ ongoing use of rhetoric that marginalizes and undermines the safety of students whose developing gender identities do not conform to Walters’ personal biases, and his repeated calls for employment discrimination against LGBTQ+ educators;
3. Walters’ failures to competently perform his core responsibilities such as meet grant application deadlines, follow federal law on spending COVID-related funds, and respectfully engage with school districts and with the public;
4. Walters’ use state funds for non-essential personal/political travel against a directive from the governor;
5. Walters’ propensity for actions that have, to date, resulted in some 17 lawsuits against himself and the State Board of Education, costing the state unknown amounts of time, personnel, and financial resources to resolve.
All Oklahomans interested in calling for the impeachment of Ryan Walters should address their concerns to their state representative, state senator, Speaker of the House Charles McCall, House Minority Leader Munson, Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, and Senate Minority Leader-elect Julia Kirt, who will assume that position at the end of Sen. Floyd’s current term. Contact info is available at oklegislature.gov.
