Hispanic Day rally opposes new law — ‘No somos criminales’

OKLAHOMA CITY — This year’s Hispanic Culture Day at the Oklahoma Capitol had a much more somber tone as Latinos and supporters gathered outside of the Capitol building to challenge a new state law that criminalizes immigrants living in the state.

“No somos criminales,” or “We are not criminals” was on one large hand-made sign at the back of the crowd and another right next to it read, “We only want to work” or “Solo queremos trabajar.”

Hispanic Day Rally
Signs that reflected the main theme of what so many said to us in the crowd at the Hispanic Day Rally at the Capitol May 15, 2024. (B.DICKERSON/Okla City Free Press)

It turned out to be the main thread of almost all that was said from the podium and to Free Press as we circulated through the crowd on the south steps of the Capitol.

In years past the annual “Hispanic Day” or “Hispanic Culture Day” has been a positive day inside of the Capitol celebrating the many different aspects of Hispanic culture in Oklahoma.

But, Wednesday, the organizers acknowledged the hurt and anger of a large swath of Oklahoma’s Hispanic population at the passage and signing of HB4156 which has the effect of requiring local law enforcement officers to engage in catching and prosecuting those who are in the U.S. illegally.

‘We are here to work’

“I’m here to support my community,” Juan Lecona told Free Press. He is a resident of the heavily Hispanic Southside of Oklahoma City and a member of the Board of Education for Oklahoma City Public Schools.

Hispanic Day Rally
Juan Lecona, a member of the OKCPS Board of Education from the south side of Oklahoma City, was blunt in saying that the very people the legislation was targeting were those who came to work and not to cause trouble. (B.DICKERSON/Okla City Free Press)

He said that the law that was HB4156 and signed into law by Governor Stitt is “unconstitutional.”

“We are workers,” said Lecona. “You know, we’re here to work. We’re not here to do anything wrong. But we’re here to do the work that many people choose not to do.”

“We’re farmers. We’re workers. We work in the fields. I’ve done it myself,” said Lecona.

“I did it myself. I worked as a roofer. I worked in a restaurant. I mowed lawns myself. I’ve done it. I am proud of who I am and my background. I did what I had to do to do right for my family. So if being a provider to my family is a crime, arrest me.”

Increasing population

Oklahoma’s Hispanic population has been increasing over the decades and continues to grow. The Census Bureau recorded Oklahoma’s Hispanic population at 470,000 which makes up a little over 11% of the total population.

Once mostly limited to the urban areas and a few county-seat towns like El Reno, the Latino population has spread throughout the state, especially in the panhandle where large commercial agricultural operations have been eager to hire hard-working immigrants from Mexico and Central America.

Hispanic Day Rally
Jessica Cifuentes, newest member of the OKCPS Board of Education said that she attended the Hispanic Day Rally at the Capitol to “stand in solidarity” with others in her community. (B.DICKERSON/Okla City Free Press)

In Oklahoma City, a very small population that spent decades located in the neighborhood that is now a part of Scissortail Park and down to the area around Little Flower Catholic Church was the preserve of Hispanic culture.

But, over recent decades the population has spread from Capitol Hill to far down on the south side and into the near northwest of Oklahoma City and Warr Acres.

Political motivations

Speakers and mostly Democratic Party legislators who attended the Rally were blunt about what they believed to be the real motivations of Republican legislators, the Republican governor, and the Republican Attorney General in passing the measure into law: politics in an election year.

Chris Brewster, founder and superintendent of Santa Fe Charter Schools in Oklahoma City started with an apology to all who were there for what he said was a “likely unconstitutional” and “overreaching” law. He said that he was especially sorry for the children who would be affected by the fear that the law would create.

Hispanic Day Rally
Chris Brewster, founder and superintendent of Santa Fe Charter Schools in OKC spoke at the Hispanic Day Rally at the Capitol May 15, 2024 (B.DICKERSON/Okla City Free Press)

“We don’t fix the issue by building bigger walls,” said Brewster to applause. “We fix the issue by building better bridges. Bridges are a safe and secure way of crossing difficult passages.”

“And I don’t just mean physical bridges. I mean much more important bridges for legal immigration and common sense naturalization policies, bridges that lead to legal residency, legal employment, and unified families, bridges to employers that need workers, bridges to a next-generation workforce that will help us build and sustain a truly great America.”

Hispanic Day Rally
A crowd estimated to be well over 1,000 attended the Hispanic Day Rally at the Capitol May 15, 2024. (B.DICKERSON/Okla City Free Press)

Both Senator Michael Brooks Jimenez (SD44) and House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson (HD85), Democrats in small minorities in each house, said that this shows the need for more people to register to vote and to vote to let their wishes be known about what people in the state care about.

And while Republican legislators and Attorney General Gentner Drummond argued that the law was needed and wanted to support law enforcement efforts, the actual chiefs of metro police departments disagreed in a statement released earlier in the week.

Attorney General proposed idea

Oklahoma State Attorney General Gentner Drummond is the one who proposed the law to the Oklahoma Legislature in the first place that became HB4156.

According to a news release on the AG’s website, Drummond proposed the legislation to the Legislature “to take action on a state-based solution that would assist his efforts to eradicate the countless illegal marijuana grow operations often run by foreign nationals.”

attorney general
Gentner Drummond speaks at a campaign event before his election in Nov. 2022 as Oklahoma’s new Attorney General. (provided)

Under the new law, the first offense for being arrested for “illegal occupation” of the state is a misdemeanor maximum of 1 year in jail and a $500 fine and the requirement to leave the state within 72 hours after release.

For following offenses that would be felonies, the maximum jail time would be 2 years and $1000 fine. Also, upon release the requirement would be to leave the state within 72 hours.

Free Press asked the AG’s office for a response to criticism today at the rally. This is the whole of what the office sent:

“Attorney General Drummond trusts our police forces and sheriffs’ offices to enforce the new law without violating the Constitutional rights of U.S. citizens. While he respects the concerns expressed by opponents of the law, AG Drummond has been clear that HB 4156 is necessary to crack down on the illicit marijuana grows and other criminal enterprises that often are fueled by illegal foreign nationals. Racial profiling already is strictly prohibited by law.”


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Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. Brett continues to contribute reports and photography to this site as he runs the business.