How do you take out the steering column locking plate on a 1977 camaro?

Once you get past all of the other parts and get to the locking plate, the plate itself needs to be pushed back either with a special tool or simply some other person pushing it back. The latter option requires fairly strong fingers. Once the plate is pushed back a hog ring is revealed that must be removed (possible with a small flathead) so the locking plate can slide off.