PLEDGE OF RESISTANCE
This letter has been authored and signed in response to the recent signing into law of HB 1804. This new law is fiercely anti-immigrant and is not reflective of values which respect people and families.
With the advent of this new law, we are standing together in opposition and defiance of this unjust and immoral law.
This law states that to aid, assist or transport any undocumented person in the state of Oklahoma is a felony and “on violating the provisions of subsections A or B of this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year, or by a fine of not less than One (1) Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Our various faith traditions instruct us to do good to all peoples. There is no exemption clause for those persons who do not have documentation of their citizenship status. We will not show partiality to those who are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Because this law is overly punitive and makes a felony of the act of providing humanitarian assistance to an undocumented person in need; we the undersigned clergy, religious leaders, and lay people of conscience will not and can not obey this law. We will continue to aid and assist all people regardless of their legal citizenship status, with charitable care and spiritual counsel.
We people of faith and conscience refuse to be defined by fear of Oklahoma’s law which makes servant-leaders felons. Rather, we stand in obedience to faith, hope, and love. We call for repeal of this anti-immigrant bill and for the passage of immigration reform that provides justice for all of God’s children.
We stand together, in solidarity, in defiance of this law because of our allegiance to a higher law; the love of humanity.
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