Thread: Oklahoma rally

Unfortunately there wasnt a big turn out, probably 50 or so. Most of them were truckers though. It covered illeagal immigration and the Mexican truck pilot program. It did receive some media attention though, so I guess that is a small victory, hopefully the news will put it in a positive light. It was my first rally/protest to ever attend.

Group protests Mexican truck project

By The Associated Press
Truckers and anti-illegal immigration forces joined together at the Capitol on Monday to protest a Bush administration plan to let Mexican trucks haul freight deep into the United States.

The Bush administration announced plans in February to permit 100 Mexican trucking companies to travel beyond the current 20-mile limit in a one-year pilot project.

About 75 sign-carrying truckers and their supporters voiced their disapproval of the project during a rally on the Capitol's south steps.

Supporters included members of the Oklahoma Minutemen Civil Defense Corps. Inc., an anti-illegal immigration group headed by Steve Merrill, former immigration agent.

They heard speakers say permitting Mexican trucks into the country would present safety, security, environmental and economic problems for Americans.

Ron Black, a former radio talk show host, said it is part of an attack on U.S. sovereignty.

Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, announced his support of the truckers and the introduction of a resolution urging Congress to repeal the Bush plan and to reject the idea of the North American Union, composed of Mexico, the United States and Canada.

The Senate later adopted the resolution in a voice vote.

"The security of our country is at risk for the benefit of just a few companies," said trucker Jay Michael Riley of Yukon.

Riley and his wife, Claret, a truck driving team, helped found Americans for Safe Highways and Secure Borders, an organization of long haul truck drivers and supporters opposed to allowing Mexican trucks to travel U.S. highways.

Riley said the Mexican government had not developed a database of Mexican truckers as promised under the North American Free Trade Agreement and the proposed NAFTA super highway.

He said allowing Mexican trucks to travel U.S. roads would increase drug trafficking, expose Americans to safety risks, promote illegal immigration and even allow terrorists easy access to the country.

"Where do you think all of those worn out trucks go _ they go to Mexico," said Dan Howard, of Outraged Patriots.

Some speakers said Mexican truckers are poorly paid and allowing them into the United States would put American truckers out of business.

http://www.newsok.com/article/3044552

Thanks kniggit, I had not seen that yet.

Very encouraging news!!