A staunch opponent of the death penalty, Toure, a Democrat, was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1994 and served until 2006, when he was term-limited out of the election cycle.
“He really has given me strength for my journey many times over. Oftentimes I’m the voice in the wilderness, when he left it was just me standing around screaming,” said Sen. Connie Johnson, D-Oklahoma City, and a fellow black member of the Legislature. “Oklahoma is a very unforgiving state, but he never stopped banging the gavel for justice. I miss my comrade.”
Toure wrote legislation in 2003 that gave people wrongfully convicted and imprisoned the ability to apply for up to $175,000 in compensation.
In 2002, Toure, who was an attorney, was awarded the Angie Debo Award by the American Civil Liberties Union.
During the same year, Toure shepherded House Bill 2635 through the legislature, which received wide bipartisan support. It was a measure that sought to stop the execution of mentally disabled offenders with intelligence quotients of 70 or below. It was vetoed by former Gov. Frank Keating.
Later, however, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in the case of Atkins v. the State of Virgina, that executing the mentally disabled was in fact cruel and unusual punishment.
“I know his family is one that bows to the will of God,” Johnson said. “I think in that regard, it will be a celebration because he lived, because he stood for what he stood for during his journey.”
Toure had suffered from the lung condition for years. He was hospitalized last week, where he was awaiting a lung transplant.
Toure had a heart attack in December, a byproduct of his existing health condition, which pushed him further down on the transplant list.
“Opio was a great, great, great man,” said state Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City. “The same passion he had in the legislature he had in the street. He is known to be a freedom fighter and to speak for those who don’t have the platform to speak for themselves. He was a great mentor for me as a legislator but more importantly the need and the role of a community activist.”
Toure took a post at Langston University in January 2007, as the pre-law coordinator and assistant professor.
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Of course, I offer my deepest regret to his family and his many friends. We are all poorer for his passing. In the legislature, and in the courts he was an eloquent advocate for those who had no one else to speak for them. A good and gentle man, but a man of incredible inner strength and faith. God's rest to you, Opio.
This is a man whom we all can look up to as a role model. Its tragic that sometimes our best and brighest have to leave us early. Thoughts and prayers to family and close friends. Terry
I remember Opio from the 80s and my days at the Supreme Court - when he was with the AG and remember him as a kind and gentle soul with a beautiful spirit. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family friends and all the lucky people he touched in his too short life.
I have known Opio since our days at OU Law School in the late 70s. Although we rarely agreed on politics and policy, he was a calm, reasoned, spokesman for any cause he espoused. He was the type of person who could cause people who did not agree with him to at least listen, a talent few these days seem to possess. God bless you on your new journey, Opio......
He was a wonderful, inspiring leader whose spirit inspired us to make the world a better place. My prayers are with his family and friends. Elaine, Tulsa
Rep Toure was a dedicated worker. He will be missed. He has left a great legacy as an example of being proud & helping our community. I pray for the continued blessings for his family
Rep. Toure was a role model for advocacy. He is definitely a hero in my eyes. I'll miss seeing him around the community. I only hope that he knows how much we loved him and appreciated his work.
Rep. Toure was fighter for justice even as a student. He helped to lead a sit in at the govenor's office to keep Langston Univ. open when the state was trying to turn it into a prison.
I've known Opio Toure since 1990. He was an interesting person and was not bashful about his beliefs. I did not always agree with him but he made his points well and was fervent in his pursuit of what he thought was the right thing for his constituents. He will be missed.
Opio Toure remembered 02/05/2008 Former state Rep. Opio Toure, 53, died Monday in the intensive care unit of St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, where he was being treated for a lung...
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