Gov. Stitt warns immigration protestors about violence, protestors say none planned
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Organizers of Oklahoma protests in response to immigration enforcement and issues with federal leaders say they plan to host peaceful events, with Governor Kevin Stitt issuing a stern warning if they don't.
Nationwide, solidarity protests have sparked in response to ongoing protests in Los Angeles, California, over immigration enforcement. The escalating protests have gotten the attention of the federal government, with President Donald Trump ordering military troops to the state and mass arrests.
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On Tuesday, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt shared in a social media post that his office and state troopers are aware of protests in response to immigration enforcement being planned in Oklahoma.
A nationwide movement, 'No Kings Day,' is planned to see several protests in Oklahoma on June 14, with one protest set for downtown Oklahoma City. A permit for the event shared with News 4 shows it was requested well before the California protests. The permit lists the event as a political march with a rally planned to be held in front of Oklahoma City Hall. It says the rally will include music and speakers. It also says protestors will stay on sidewalks and crosswalks. Protestors have also agreed not to block any doorways, entrances, or exits.
'We're coming together and supporting each other, supporting our neighbors,' said Nina Lawrence with Indivisible Oklahoma.
Lawrence described the event as a means to mobilize in response to 'authoritarian excesses and corruption' from leaders in the federal government, and said everyone human in the United States deserves to be treated with dignity.
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Governor Stitt's social media post Tuesday stated that peaceful assembly is allowed, but went further in saying that 'we'll quickly stop any violence or lawlessness. State Troopers stand ready to assist local law enforcement in protecting our streets. Law and order will be upheld.'
Lawrence said that neither she nor other organizers of the Saturday protest have any intention of encouraging violence, and that security will be on hand to make sure things stay peaceful.
'We're absolutely committed to a nonviolent demonstration,' said Lawrence.
The same can be said for Fernando Baquera, who told News 4 on Tuesday, his organization, Community Response Network OK, is organizing a separate protest on June 21 in response to immigration enforcement.
'We are going to remain peaceful at all times,' said Baquera. 'I feel like [the Governor] kind of wants action in Oklahoma, but like I said from us, it's not going to come from us.'
Baquera said local immigrant communities in the metro are on edge. Tuesday, he said, Community Response Network received a tip that ICE agents were arresting immigrants in a Warr Acres church parking lot. News 4 reached out to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tuesday, that an operation was conducted there, but the spokesperson said only one 'illegally present Mexican national' was arrested in the operation. Baquera said that contradicts what he was told by family members of at least two people who allegedly were arrested.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson did not respond when asked for the arrestee's name and if any additional people were detained.
'We feel like we're being targeted,' said Baquera. 'The tensions are high.'
News 4 also spoke with immigration attorney and Democratic State Senator Michael Brooks-Jimenez on Tuesday, who said he's heard of an increased presence of ICE operations and enforcement in the past several weeks. He said he still encourages peaceful demonstrations and doesn't believe anyone actually wants a fight.
'I don't think at this point anybody is looking for a conflict,' said Brooks-Jimenez. 'I have not received any kind of indication from the governor's office that he wants to aggressively confront people in a way that's not lawful.'
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