OKLAHOMA CITY — Pro-democracy groups gathered Saturday morning at City Hall for a peaceful rally organized by a coalition including 50501 OK, Indivisible Oklahoma, OKC Mutual Aid, OKC Democratic Socialists of America, and The Lawton Resistance.
Dubbed “Rage Against the Regime,” the rally carried the tagline “No Camps. No Wars. No 1984” and built on past actions like the “No Kings” and “Hands Off” protests. Organizers said the event centered on a range of issues, including veterans’ rights, immigrant rights, LGBTQIA2S+ rights, antifascist activism, and anti-war advocacy.
Rory Bell, an organizer with 50501 OK and Political Revolution, opened the event by emphasizing unity and urgency.
“We are not here because we are afraid. We are here because we are fed up, because we care, and because we refuse to give up on each other,” Bell said.
She described the protest as an expression of “rage rooted in love” and said the rally aimed to defend democracy and demand that the government uphold the Constitution and rule of law.
“No one, not a president, not a billionaire, is above it,” Bell said.
Bell called for increased investment in public goods such as education, housing, health care and food, and said veterans deserve care and dignity after serving the country.
“Troops swear to the Constitution, not to any man or any party,” she said.
Diana “Snack Mom” Mitchell, another organizer with Political Revolution, spoke next. She framed the rally as a collective response to systemic harm and oppression.
“This is We the People, and we the people are coming together across the nation right now to rage against the regime,” Mitchell said. “Rage comes when we witness harm and refuse to ignore it.”
Mitchell cited white supremacy, Christian nationalism, colonialism, capitalism and ableism as overlapping sources of harm, adding that many attendees were present in solidarity with loved ones who could not attend.
“We can affirm that many things are true: Black lives matter. Trans rights are human rights. None of us are free until Palestine is free. No one is illegal on stolen land. Our bodies, our choice,” she said.
Speaking with Free Press, Mitchell acknowledged that activism carries risk but said the cost of inaction is greater.
“There are some dangers in protesting, but I’m more concerned about the dangers of doing nothing,” she said. “I don’t want to see us become a nation that is desensitized to the violence being carried out in our name.”
Gary Harris, an organizer with Indivisible Oklahoma, expressed frustration with institutions he believes have failed to hold power accountable.
“The country is under threat from the Trump regime, and from a Congress that won’t stand up to him,” Harris said. “It’s up to the people ourselves to stand up.”
Tyler Minton, an organizer with OKC Democratic Socialists of America, said the event helped show solidarity and connection in a politically fragmented landscape.
“We’re so often told that we need to be realistic,” Minton said. “I think the only reason people think that is because we’re so siloed and isolated from each other.”
Minton said he hopes the rally inspires more civic engagement, including participation in efforts to raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage to $15 per hour.
Alex Gatley covers labor activities in the state of Oklahoma.
