Candidates for the OK House District 88 race appeared at a candidate forum at First Unitarian Church. Local grassroots organization VOICE hosted the forum and framed questions from stories they've heard in their listening sessions.

“Oklahoma organizations are already planning to challenge the legislation in the courts,” . . . stated the Rev. Lori Walke, senior minister at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ.

“Immigration is one of those issues, unfortunately, that is used [as] something [to] get people stirred up for voting ... and that there's very little real interest in solving the issues, as we can see what happened with Senator Lankford.”

Oklahoma religious leaders are speaking out in strong opposition to HB 4156. The letter, created by VOICE clergy and signed by 22 pastors across Oklahoma, was delivered to Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat and Governor Kevin Still today.

At a VOICE press conference led by VOICE clergy Fr. Tim Luschen and Rev. Dr. Lori Walke, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church leader Irma Palacios urged lawmakers to remember the people as they debate the politics of immigration.

Líderes Irma Palacios, P. Tim Luschen y la Rev. Dra. Lori Walke hablan en una conferencia de prensa de VOICE.

Our most important accomplishment has been building an organization that has crossed the lines that usually separate people — race, ethnicity, religious, political, economic, educational.