By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice
When free speech and election transparency collide with political pressure, citizens are often caught in the middle.
Mesa County residents and national election integrity advocates gathered virtually on April 24 to rally support for Tina Peters, the former Mesa County clerk and recorder now incarcerated at La Vista Correctional Facility in Pueblo, Colorado.
Speakers emphasized concerns about free speech, election transparency and due process, urging a respectful call to action aimed at Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
Throughout the event, participants pointed to Peters’ case as a reflection of broader citizen rights and government accountability.
Several Mesa County residents stepped forward during the call to share firsthand experiences and express support for Peters, emphasizing the local impact of the case.
Firsthand perspectives from Mesa County
Mesa County resident Doug Bryant spoke about the circumstances that led Peters to take action. “We witnessed Tina’s quest for the truth. I mean, she didn’t start this on her own. She was asked to do it ’cause other people noticed something wrong.”
Bryant remarked, “The amazing thing to me was the absolute failure and cowardice of elected officials in this county to follow up on what she had found. Instead, they turned on her.”
Ed Arnos, another local resident, defended Peters’ actions as necessary and responsible. “She never tampered with the election. That statement is supported by the Secretary of State who says no harm was ever done to the election system.”
Arnos continued, “The embarrassing part to Mesa County citizens is that our legal system pursued a person because that person was an elected official who made statements that said our election system is not correct.”
Tim Fenley, who noted he initially voted for a different candidate, shared how he became involved. “When she was elected clerk and recorder, I didn’t vote for her. I voted for Bobby Gross, who is now our clerk and recorder. Right after she was elected, they tried to recall her. That’s when I got involved.”
Fenley warned, “The reason she’s in jail right now is simply because they are after us. They’re not after her. They’re doing the same things that they did to the January 6th people. They do not want clerks doing any investigating work on the elections. They want it hidden.”
Mesa County resident Diane Cox pointed to free speech concerns raised during the legal proceedings. “The most alarming thing I heard mentioned during her sentencing by Judge Barrett was that he was denying her bond because she was a threat to the community.”
Cox asserted, “Judge Barrett’s explanation of how she was a threat was, ‘her words are a threat to the community.’ This is a total renunciation of our First Amendment rights to free speech.”
Peters speaks live: A call to persevere
Peters herself then joined the call live from La Vista Correctional Facility, thanking supporters and sharing her perspective on the events that led to her incarceration.
“With all that’s been done to me because of this criminal regime… it still confirms our resolve and our fight that we have to keep fighting,” Peters said.
She emphasized her sense of legal duty, stating, “The state of Colorado had no right to prosecute me, no right to indict me, because I had a duty imposed by federal law to preserve election records.”
Despite the challenges, Peters affirmed her commitment to the larger cause. “I consider it my duty and my privilege to do this right now on behalf of the American people.”
National voices speak out for Peters
In addition to Mesa County residents, several national election integrity advocates joined the call to amplify the message and encourage peaceful public engagement.
Steve Stern, a national grassroots organizer and radio host who helped coordinate the rally, made the call to action clear.
“This entire show has one singular call to action for you, my friends that are watching: contact Governor Jared Polis. Here’s his phone number and email. Take action,” Stern said.
Joe Hoft, an investigative journalist and election integrity advocate, reinforced the need for respectful outreach.
“We’re not begging them, we’re not mandating that they do it. We’re going to encourage them because this atrocity against Tina Peters has just been beyond anything we’ve ever seen in this country before,” Hoft said.
Mark Cook, an election systems investigator who worked with Peters, emphasized the stakes of her actions. “If there’s nothing to hide, why are people hiding things? People with nothing to hide, hide nothing. Yet when Tina looked into these systems, the full force of the federal and state government – and the media – immediately went on the attack.”
Cook warned, “First it was Tina, then it’s all of us.”
Catherine Engelbrecht, founder of True the Vote, who was herself jailed for a short time over her election integrity efforts in 2022, voiced her support for Peters. “Tina is being unjustly incarcerated and it’s an outrage, so I encourage everybody to call the governor, have your voice heard.”
Engelbrecht, reflecting on her own experience, continued, “We should not take it lightly when citizens are punished for standing up for free and fair elections.”
Matt Meck, founder of Unauthorized and a national election integrity advocate, reflected on Peters’ courage and character. “She complied with both state law and federal law.” Meck emphasized, “She complied when it was easy for her not to comply, because she’s a woman of character – a woman of principle.”
A call for diplomacy and clemency
Speakers encouraged participants throughout the call to respectfully reach out to Governor Jared Polis at [email protected] or 303-866-2471 to request clemency for Peters. Organizers stressed the importance of diplomacy and peaceful civic participation.
“If a million people call, that’s gonna make a big difference,” Stern urged.
Hoft echoed the broader stakes at play. “This is very serious. We’ve gotta take it serious. And I thank you… because this is a story that needs to be told.”