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David Stanley Ford

Trusting ‘the rule of law'
Trusting ‘the rule of law'

By Brian Sargent    Comments Comment on this article16
Published: December 9, 2007

About 50 people rallied in downtown Oklahoma City on Saturday to show support for one of the toughest immigration laws in the United States.

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The rally came five weeks after House Bill 1804 went into effect. The controversial law ends most state benefits for illegal immigrants, makes it a felony to harbor or transport someone who is here illegally and will punish employers who hire undocumented workers.

Why did they gather?
Saturday's speakers said the law is valid and morally correct.

"I think the citizens of Oklahoma have spoken very loudly. They believe and trust the rule of law. That's what we expect to be enforced,” said Carol Helm, founder of Immigration Reform for Oklahoma Now. "All the opposition is, is somebody who is profiting from illegal aliens. If, in fact, the people that are yelling right now would actually be honest about the issue and let us know how they have profited by illegal aliens, then that would be a benefit to the entire state of Oklahoma.”

Helm spoke to the media before the rally at the Character First Training Center.

Other speakers were Ralph Bullard, headmaster emeritus at Christian Heritage Academy, and Sam Antonio, John Birch Society's national immigration spokesman.

"We're trying to demonstrate that (HB 1804) is for the citizens and the protection of taxpayers,” Antonio said. "We're not against anything. We're for citizens. We're for working families. We're for fundamental awareness. I think more times than not the people who lose on illegal immigration are legal immigrants. That's why we need to stand up very proudly on the bill.

Three college students protested outside the training center before the rally. One held up a cardboard sign reading: "HB 1804 = Racism.” Another held up a cardboard sign reading: "Who Would Jesus Deport?”

The rally was sponsored by the John Birch Society.

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David Stanley Ford


Related Topics: Domestic Policy, Social Policy, Political Policy, Politics, Social Issues, Immigration Policy, Protests and Demonstrations, Immigration


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Jason, I think that T&A mean the same thing universally but the Jason I know would have recognized the other. Although T&A does sound nice. Stay warm and safe my friend.
Cale, oklahoma city - Dec 10, 2007 at 3:11 pm
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Cale, I grew up in the OKC metro area and except for my time in the service overseas have spent my entire life in central Oklahoma. I'm afraid the initials you provided don't ring a bell with me, though "T & A" did mean something in my wild, wild youth during Spring Break (Heh).
Jason, Edmond - Dec 10, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Again, my concern is that many of the people supporting this bill will see the JBS as an ally. This rally was obviously sponsored at least in part by the JBS so it doesn't wash that the organization doesn't have any thing to do with the bill. I suspect that they have associated themselves with the supporters primarily to gain new members hence the state fair booth. To a certain extent, they are "preaching to the same crowd." That's no offense to many supporters simply to those knee-jerk one issue people that get off of their couch only when their ox is gored. While I disagree with the bill, as I've said, there are good arguments for the bill. In my humble opinion, anyone who supports things based on one single issue is not very socially or politically aware, and yes, that includes people who only agree with me on any single issue. As for the ACLU, I would research this organization a bit more before casting them aside. Everyone of us at times values the wrong things.
Cale, oklahoma city - Dec 10, 2007 at 2:29 pm
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K.L. that is a great point !!!!
Jimmy, Sandy Shores - Dec 10, 2007 at 11:09 am
Hmmmm...can't think of a single thing John Birch Society has done for/against me (other than a booth at the State Fair)....but hardly a week goes by that I don't read of yet another ACLU attack against things I value. I wonder if the ACLU is/would be for this bill or not.
K.L., warr acres - Dec 10, 2007 at 10:25 am
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If anyone believes the JBS has anything to do with 1804, you are just whistling dixie. There is no "alliance". Their actions thus far have been to agree with the law in this matter. Nobody is "associating" with them,, they are associating with "us", supporters of 1804. They are Americans, they are citizens, they are here legally, so I they have a right to agree with and say whatever they like. Who cares? And Cale, perhaps if you and those who are fighting this law would all go about your dissent through the correct protocol, then the JBS would have never had any incentive to get involved. The actions of the opposition not can, but will have unintended consequences. And if the shoe doesn't fit, then it isn't meant for your foot.
Mike, Oklahoma City - Dec 9, 2007 at 11:09 pm
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Jason, off topic: Did you grow up in SW OK? Do the initials TA from CU mean anything to you? Finally, how long is a 1AC in CX? Just curious.
Cale, oklahoma city - Dec 9, 2007 at 9:33 pm
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And so, Gary, let us suppose these figures from the bogus "poll" you're pimping (for the record, folks, I checked and there is no such "poll": Gary just made that crap up) are legitimate. So what? That has absolutely zero bearing on the utility of HB 1804, or its proper place as an instrument of law. Indeed, the only reason poseurs like you post such dubious piffle is that you think by throwing out the scare word "prejudice" or "bigotry" or "hate" or "intolerance" or any of the other happy horse-crap PC code words, you are somehow making some kind of genuine argument. You are not. The sooner some of you pro-illegal alien apologists get an education and learn how to debate a position without lapsing into recurrent logical fallacies, the less I'll laugh at your manifest absurdities.
Jason, Edmond - Dec 9, 2007 at 8:44 pm
A recent national ABC poll found that 20% of Republicans self admitted that they were prejudiced against Hispanics. Of course, some won't admit it. In Oklahoma, the percentages are higher - around 30-40% of Republicans. So, HB 1804 is to be expected and to have great support from the radical right Republicans in OK. While there are some who might support it for other reasons, they are few - and usually they support it because they are ignorant of the law or current immigration requirements.
Gary, Oklahoma City - Dec 9, 2007 at 6:55 pm
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A recent national ABC poll found that 20% of Republicans self admitted that they were prejudiced against Hispanics. Of course, some won't admit it. In Oklahoma, the percentages are higher - around 30-40% of Republicans. So, HB 1804 is to be expected and to have great support from the radical right Republicans in OK. While there are some who might support it for other reasons, they are few - and usually they support it because they are ignorant of the law or current immigration requirements.
Gary, Oklahoma City - Dec 9, 2007 at 6:53 pm
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Ron, "Wer're meeting at the courthouse at 8 o'clock tonight, you just come in the door and take the first turn to the right..........................." Yeah, I remember it. Jason, you're right, it was China. As you know, these guys are not the people you need supporting 1804. Most importantly, none of us need a lot of "one issue" political activists believing that this is an organization to worthy of supporting.
Cale, oklahoma city - Dec 9, 2007 at 4:47 pm
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I too cringed when I saw The John Birch Society (JBS) were sponsoring the immigration law rally. I have followed the antics of the JBS for some twenty years. They are on one hand wacky nutjobs with ideas that take them so far right they fall off the Earth yet turn right around and criticize "W" for torturing prisoners in the war on terror and took Clinton to task on his Chinese fundraising connections! I actually know some members of the JBS (that probably puts me on a list somewhere) who are intelligent but given to a bit more political conspiracy theory than I can handle. Can anyone remember the old Chad Mitchell Trio song with the lyrics: "If Mommy is a commie then you've got to turn her in." ?
America is truly the land of the free and its ok to be weird or just plain politically incorrect but it sure is painful sometimes :)
Ron, Oklahoma City - Dec 9, 2007 at 2:40 pm
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Cale, you are quite correct. The John Birch Society--so named after a missionary who was killed in China--is not quite the kind of organization I'd care to be associated with. They're the ones who called Dwight Eisenhower a communist (!) when he was president, among other nuttiness. As I recall, they're also perpetually fired up about the BIGGEST ISSUE OF OUR TIME--fluoridated water (*snicker*). William F. Buckley Jr., the "godfather" of modern American conservatism, has little use for the JBS. I must concur.
Jason, Edmond - Dec 9, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Patricia, you need to read a little further on the JBS. There is a reason they had been relegated to the fringe. Those of you supporting HB 1804 would be wise to make sure your cause is not associated with this roving band of nut-jobs. As I said earlier, I do not support this bill but I certainly respect those of you who do. There are good arguments on both sides of this issue but letting the JBS have a voice in the cause and allowing them to speak for many of you is tantamount to seeking support from the KKK. These are the people who still believe that communists roam the streets of the US and have infiltrated the military. Jason, Edmond, even though we are on different sides of the immigration issue, I'm sure that we're in agreement on the JBS. Let these people know that this is an organization that needs to be kept out of the limelight for 1804's supporters. Talk about a slippery-slope.
Cale, oklahoma city - Dec 9, 2007 at 1:46 pm
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Cale, I am not a member of the John Birch Society & I do support this HB. I don't know who or what is driving it, as far as the people behind it go, but I really think that people should give this law a chance to work. The only real people that this is going to affect are the employers who exploit the illegal immigrant & the illegal , who should not be here in the first place. Are you not judging the JBS a little harshly? Since I am assuming you are not a member? You may just be going off of something you read or were told just as we go off of some of the stories in this paper, usually they are wrong. I have been to the fair & had been offered leaflets & information on the JBS I did not join but from what I read it mostly just sounded like people that are for this country. If I am wrong then so be it, but this law is a good law.
Jimmy, Sandy Shores - Dec 9, 2007 at 11:51 am
If there is any question about who is pushing HB 1804 all one has to do is to look at who sponsored this rally. I would urge ANYONE not familiar with the John Birch Society to research this organization. Their involvement, by itself, should be enough to, at the very least, concern most of us. In a nutshell, the JBS was born out of McCarthyism. John Birch was a missionary killed in Africa during, I believe, the early 1950's and is considered by this organization, the first casualty of World War III. To call these people ultra right wing does a dis-service to those friends of ours that consider themselves ultra right wing. In short, these people are crazier than hell and what frightens me the most is that people will see this group which thankfully had been relegated to the fringe, as a friend and will see a boost in membership thanks to their "expected" position on illegal immigration. While many of you disagree with my position on this bill, I have NO problem respecting that position but I would implore you to look long and hard at the John Birch Society before you align yourself with these people. Common support of an issue does not necessarily make an alliance.
Cale, oklahoma city - Dec 9, 2007 at 10:02 am
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