National Initiative and Referendum Expert’s Statement Before Trial for Violating Petition Laws

(Oklahoma City, OK)…Paul Jacob, President of Citizens in Charge released the following statement before his preliminary hearing on felony charges of violating the state’s statute requiring petition circulators to be residents of Oklahoma:

“Today, Attorney General Drew Edmondson continues his attack on the right to petition one’s government. We are innocent. We sought to understand and to fully comply with the letter of the law. Indeed, those running the petition drive were advised by state officials and followed that advice.

Furthermore, the very statute being used to prosecute us is being challenged as unconstitutional. In recent months, statutes similar to Oklahoma’s have been struck down as unconstitutional by two federal circuit courts – the Sixth and Ninth Circuits – in unanimous decisions.

Make no mistake: We are here today facing 10 years in prison because we worked for an issue adamantly opposed by the rich and powerful in Oklahoma. The goal of this prosecution is to threaten us and scare Oklahomans away from the initiative process, which gives citizens their best opportunity for real reform.

But we will not be bullied out of our rights as Americans. We will fight this vicious, politically-motivated assault, and we will prevail.”

Citizens in Charge works with activists, legislators, media, opinion leaders and voters to protect the initiative & referendum process where it exists in 24 states and to expand the process to the 26 states where voters currently lack the initiative.

Related:

Free Paul Jacob

WSJ Editorial: Oklahoma’s Most Wanted

Townhall.com: We, the Oklahoma 3