A former governor was chased down the street by an angry mob. A wheelchair-bound woman attending a fundraising dinner was bullied by protesters. Campaign donors were targeted with “harassment, intimidation, vandalism, … angry protests, violence, at least one death threat, and gross expressions of anti-religious bigotry.”

Sure, all those things were done by angry leftists in liberal states (and D.C.). But Oklahoma is on the verge of giving them an assist.

Senate Bill 579 would force public disclosure of donors to groups that talk about state ballot measures. As Jonathan Small wrote in the Journal Record:

The bill targets what some deceptively call dark money. But calling private donations dark money is like saying a private ballot is dark voting. People working together for a cause, whether in a small community group or a big coalition like the National Rifle Association, have a right to assemble and speak without their names going on a government list.

Under SB 579, if a group simply educated people about a ballot measure, its entire donor lists could be accessible. And we’ve seen too many instances where donors have been subject to harassment, firing, or death threats.

Oklahoma legislators should not set a precedent that helps liberal mobs target Christians and conservatives, even if those most in danger today are in other, more liberal states.

Finally, it is worth noting that SB 579 flatly violates the Oklahoma Constitution. The state’s Bill of Rights guarantees: “Every person may freely speak, write, or publish his sentiments on all subjects” and “no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press.”