An activist who opposes illegal immigration acknowledges paying more than a dozen homeless people $10 each to hold signs during a rally earlier this week, but assures they agreed with his message.

D.A. King, who spoke at the rally, says Wednesday he paid "14 willing American workers to let their voices be heard about illegal immigration."

King says the people he hired are homeless and regularly congregate near the Capitol.

"Trust me, they are angry," King says. "When the day comes when I cannot pay an American for an hour's worth of work for making their voices heard, it's a sad day."

The rally at the state Capitol, broadcast live on a local radio station, was designed to build support for next year's passage of legislation that would deny state benefits to illegal immigrants.

King Mitchell, 28, says he was paid $10 to hold a placard, but agrees with efforts to curb illegal immigration.

Legislation blocking taxpayer-funded benefits to those who are not citizens is pending in the state Senate and has been designated a top priority of Senate Republican leaders for the 2006 session, which begins in January.