OCPA Now Home Of Ten Commandments Monument

The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA,) considered by many as a conservative think tank, is now the new home of the 6-foot tall granite monument of the Ten Commandments.

The OCPA is located on Lincoln Blvd. just 10 blocks from the Oklahoma State Capitol.

The monument was removed 10:30 p.m. Monday. A heavy duty crane was used to lift the 4,800 pound monument.

Since it was placed at the Capitol in 2012, several groups lobbied for its removal, and other religious groups wanted monuments of their own placed at the Capitol. 

In June, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled the monument displayed on state grounds violates the Oklahoma State Constitution and gave it until October 12 to remove it from state property.

10/5/2015 Related Story: Crews Remove Ten Commandments Monument

The state paid a private contractor $4,700 to remove it, but the cost to reinstall it was paid for using private funds.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol provided increased security at the Capitol during the process out of concern of protestors, but even that sparked opinions from a number of people. 

“Nothing about this surprises me. I don’t know if they thought there were going to be massive protests,” said former State Representative Mike Reynolds. “Just because the Supreme Court acted incorrectly that doesn’t mean the citizens will act incorrectly.”

The monument still belongs to the state of Oklahoma, but any costs related to it are the responsibility of the Council of Public Affairs.