Senator Kristen Thompson Receives Yolanda Charney Award for Public Leadership

TULSA, OK – Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, District 22, was honored yesterday with the Yolanda Charney Award for Public Leadership at a luncheon hosted by the Jewish Federation of Tulsa.

The award recognizes Senator Thompson’s leadership in advancing Senate Bill 991 and Senate Bill 942, two landmark measures signed into law earlier this year to strengthen protections against antisemitism in Oklahoma. The Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass the legislation.

• SB 991 adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into state statute, providing a clear standard for accountability.
• SB 942 requires public educational institutions to incorporate the IHRA definition into their codes of conduct, ensuring Jewish students are protected under Title VI in the same manner as other groups facing discrimination.

“These measures make clear that Oklahoma will not tolerate antisemitism,” Thompson said. “I am grateful to the members of the Legislature who had the moral clarity to support these bills, and I am deeply honored to receive this award in Yolanda Charney’s name. Real progress requires more than words — it requires allies, meaningful legislation, and action.”

The Yolanda Charney Award for Public Leadership was established by the Jewish Federation of Tulsa to honor civic leaders who embody Charney’s lifelong commitment to education, justice, and interfaith cooperation.

Senator Thompson represents Senate District 22, which includes parts of Piedmont and Edmond. She serves as Chair of the Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism Committee, the LEAD Committee, and is an active voice on issues of education, economic development, and public health.

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