They gathered in response to the actions of Trump and the Republican Party
Hundreds of human-rights protesters gathered at the Oklahoma State Capitol on Saturday, Feb. 1, to send a message to their state legislature, which came into session the following Monday. While the mood at the event was jovial, with many demonstrators dancing, socializing and relaxing on the State Capitol steps, the subject matter was serious. Handheld signs showed support for LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and women — all groups threatened by the new Trump administration and its loyal followers in state legislatures. I spoke with several demonstrators at the event on why they attended and why it was so important.
Medieval reenactor Tim Dross dressed in full Crusades-era armor to draw attention to the “archaic laws” championed by the American Right. “How is this anything but an excuse for racism? You make more people ‘illegal’ so you can deport them. Meanwhile, the rich get richer. These laws are justified the same way the Crusades were justified.” Dross’ picket sign, taped to the end of his spear, read: “ ‘God wills it’ was always a stupid excuse.”
Demonstrator Uriel Cervantes, draped in the Progress pride flag, was repeatedly singled out by the roughly 10 counterprotesters, who lobbed insults and slurs from across 21st Street. Cervantes, smiling and dancing, seemed to relish the attention. “I let the hate go in one ear and out the other. They can’t weaken me,” Cervantes said. “I’m here for those who don’t have a voice. I love people.”
Many protesters turned out in opposition to Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans, which have been supported by some Oklahoma politicians. “I’m an immigrant myself. A lot of us are working and can’t be out here,” a masked demonstrator wielding a toy bubble gun told me. “We’re here with all our people to promote a better living for everybody,” another protester said. “It isn’t an attack — we need change.” About the counterprotesters, the demonstrator said, “We are fighting for you; we respect your opinions as much as ours. If you disrespect us, though, we’ll rise up.”
“As a trans person and a parent to three kids, I have to be wary for myself and others,” Lilith L. told me. “Will the government try to dissolve my gay marriage? It puts a huge strain on my life. Things are going to change quickly, and the Trump administration will help only the people it wants to help.”
The protesters who organized in Oklahoma City on Feb. 1 did not protest one specific issue. They were not part of a unified organization, either; some heard about the event on social media, some attended as groups and others showed up out of curiosity. What brought together womens’ rights advocates, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people and allies was a common opposition to the oppressive policies pushed by Trump and his Republican-led administration, many of which have been imitated by Oklahoma legislators. Additionally, the event’s timing was deliberate; the protest occurred two days before the Oklahoma legislature came into session for the first time since Trump’s election. Among the bills currently being considered by your Oklahoma legislators are HB-1006, which would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools, and SB-228, which would financially incentivize “covenant marriages” with strict divorce limitations, effectively bribing couples to admit that “marriage is a lifelong covenant made before God.” Two days later, protestors gathered at the State Capitol on Feb. 3, the first day of the legislative session, after state Superintendent Ryan Walters said he would allow federal immigration raids in public schools. Why is our state government so inhumane and backwards? God wills it, I suppose.
