CITY OF NORMAN

201 West Gray, Norman, Oklahoma 73069

May 7, 2020

Statement from the City of Norman

The City of Norman was today notified of State Attorney General Mike Hunter’s disagreement with its
Healthier at Home plan via a tweet from the AG’s Twitter and a press release from his office.
Throughout its COVID-19 response, the City has acted to protect public health and safety with careful
consideration of recommendations from public health experts, CDC recommendations for social
distancing, and requirements of state and federal law. These proactive decisions led by Mayor Breea
Clark have resulted in a true downward trend of positive cases in Norman.

“Our first priority has been and continues to be, the health and safety of our residents. We have worked
to make the best possible decisions we can, based on the best possible information available at the
time,” said Mayor Clark. “From the beginning, we have made every effort to coordinate our COVID-19
response with the State and other local officials. And, while we have often not received advice or input
from the State, we welcome Mr. Hunter’s opinion on our current plan. We will take it into consideration
as we continue to ensure we are in compliance with state and federal laws and acting in the best
interest of our residents.”

The City’s current Healthier at Home order (Proclamation 2020-07) was developed with the same careful
consideration and effort for across-the-board consistency as each previous proclamation. A consistent
theme running through Proclamation 2020-07, as amended, is the recognition of social distancing as one
of the best tools we have to avoid being exposed to the COVID-19 virus and slowing its spread locally
and across the country and world. Social distancing includes staying at least 6 feet apart, not gathering
in groups, staying out of crowded places and avoiding mass gatherings. Knowing this, Proclamation
2020-07 prohibits mass gatherings regardless of if they are religious or secular. Similar to Governor
Kevin Stitt’s earlier Safer at Home order, in-person services for places of worship, along with other mass
gatherings, are restricted in Phase 1. Alternatively, streaming and drive-in services have been
encouraged.

The City understands the importance of its citizen’s rights to exercise their religious and non-religious
beliefs freely and to assemble peaceably. However, constitutional rights have never been absolute.
Rather, they are subject to a balancing with state interest. As noted by the U.S. Supreme Court as early
as 1944, “[t]he right to practice religion freely does not include liberty to expose the community ... to a
communicable disease or the latter to ill health or death.”