In August 2017 I was aghast when I turned on the evening news and saw Nazi’s and KKK members marching in the streets of Charlottesville carrying torches. I had to check to make sure that I hadn’t accidentally turned on the History Channel or Mississippi Burning. I hadn’t. This was actually on the news, happening in the United States in the 21st century.
On April 2nd the town of Enid, Oklahoma recalled a member of their city commission who was a member of a white nationalist group and who participated in the white supremacist march in Charlottesville. On the surface this sounds like justice, as though the people of Enid did what decent people should do, and denounce hate and racism by exorcising it from their town council. But the people of Enid didn’t do this for justice. They didn’t do it to remove hatred and racism from their council. They did it for show.
Republican Judd Blevins, an election denier and Trump supporter, was elected to the Enid town commission in 2023, despite a news article outing him as a white supremacist. A grass roots effort by local activists was launched and he was successfully recalled earlier this month. Oklahoma is a decidedly red state. So staunchly Republican, that this coming November, some 70% of Republican candidates for state offices are running unopposed. So sure are they that Republicans will win that many Democrat and Independent candidates don’t even run for office. And Garfield County, home to Enid, is even more red. But in a place so staunchly Republican, what caused the town of Enid to turn against one of their own?
“It’s not who you are underneath, it’s what you do that defines you.” This is one of my favorite movie quotes, from the 2005 film Batman Begins. People in the town of Enid can recall a city councilman for having white supremacist ties, but as a voting population they support racism. Their problem is that they are looking at the trees, and not the forest. While they removed one person for espousing hate and violence, they support others who espouse the same violence, hatred and racism.
- In the 2020 election Donald Trump won 65% of state wide vote, but 76% in Garfield County. Trump has repeatedly refused to condemn white supremacy and has referred to White Supremacists and Nazi’s as “very fine people.” He has touted the idea of ending immigration from “shit-hole” countries like Africa, Asia and South America, banning Muslims from entering the US, and encouraging more immigration from white countries. Those he considers to be “nice.”
- Senator James Lankford (OK-R), while speaking out against white supremacy, is an election denier who supports Donald Trump. In 2022 he won 64% of the state-wide vote, 77% in Garfield County. Lankford had a brief moment of morality when he once voted to impeach Trump. And for that the Republican party is working to replace him.
- Senator Markwayne Mullin (OK-R) is another election denier who voted against the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. He once challenged a man to a fist fight during a congressional hearing, and threatened a US Ambassador and his staff, for refusing to assist him in breaking the law. He also supports Donald Trump. He was elected in 2022 with 62% of the vote, 72% in Garfield County.
- Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-R) won election in 2022 with 75% of the state-wide vote, 80% in Garfield County. He is an election denier who voted against certification of the 2020 election. While he publicly claims to condemn racism, he voted against a resolution to condemn then President Donald Trump for his racist statements.
- Ryan Walters, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, won election in 2022 with 65% of the vote. He has successfully eliminated DEI programs and CRT instruction and once forced 2nd grade children to participate in Christian prayer at a public school. He even denied that the Tulsa Race Massacre was racially motivated.
If actions speak louder than words, then the actions of the overwhelming majority of voters in Garfield County, Oklahoma, support those who support racism, who spew hate and espouse violence. So what sin did Judd Blevins commit to turn his own people against him? A photo of Blevins marching in Charlottesville, torch in hand, was blown up and used on posters and protest signs as part of the campaign to recall him. Was that the impetus? The bridge too far? Was that photo enough to shame the voters in Enid?
Over 79% of Oklahoman’s identify as Christian. As a child my parents tried to force Christianity on me. My takeaway from that experience is that part of the Christian religion includes going to church on Sunday, listening to the preacher recite some fictional stories, maybe sing some songs, put some money in the plate, and leave redeemed. Any horrible things you may have done the other 6 days of the week are now forgiven, absolved as though they never happened. Perhaps that is what the people of Enid are seeking, some absolution. Some forgiveness for their other voting choices. In the end, support for racism and hate will continue in Enid in the form of their state and federal elected officials. The recall of Judd Blevins was all for show.