Thanks to everyone who was able to join us in Oklahoma City yesterday for the re-arraignment of the Oklahoma 3! We had about 30 supporters at the Oklahoma County Courthouse, carrying signs with slogans such as “Free the OK 3,” “What Happened to the Constitution?,” “Protect Our Right to Petition,” “Get a Clue, Drew!” and “Ayatollah Edmondson says Thou Shalt Not Petition Thy Governent.”

The press conference attracted a crowd of people and numerous members of the media.

“We, the Oklahoma 3, are innocent,” Jacob told the group. “This prosecution will have a chilling effect on those petition rights of the folks who live in this state and, through spreading fear, perhaps on the rights of citizens all over the country…

“Come what may, against any force or threat, I will continue to work to protect and expand the rights of citizens to control their government, so that we may never face the day when it is the other way around, with government utterly controlling citizens,” he added.

State Sen. Randy Brogdon spoke at the press conference, saying that Monday should be marked as a “day of infamy” in Oklahoma and that Carpenter, Jacob, and Susan Johnson “are guilty of nothing more than to petition their government.”

Carpenter told the crowd that he was “the target of an angry and vengeful government, determined to tell the people of Oklahoma, ‘don¹t you dare get between the government and your money.’”

Kim Wright, spokesperson for Oklahoma Independent Voters, called the prosecution an attempt to intimidate voters from exercising their right to petition their government.

“The initiative process provides ordinary citizens, regardless of political party, the opportunity to bring issues to the voters, issues that legislators might not be willing to support or pursue,” said Wright.

Charlie Meadows, Chairman of Oklahoma Conservative PAC, told the crowd that professionals who help run petition drives in Oklahoma are helping Oklahomans to exercise their rights—rights that most working people in Oklahoma would be unable to exercise on their own. He objected to Attorney General Drew Edmondson’s attempts to limit who he can ask for help in protecting his rights.

Also speaking at the press conference in support of the Oklahoma 3 were State Rep. Mike Reynolds and Stuart Jolly, state director of Americans for Prosperity.

We got very positive coverage on the local Fox affiliate’s 6 o’clock news. Coverage in The Journal Record was quite favorable. The Tulsa World gave more space to Edmondson’s defense against charges of political motivations than they did to the Oklahoma 3’s position.

You can view part of the press conference on video, by clicking the image below.