ACTION ITEM! Reject militia activity in the Flathead Valley
First, the good news!
Love Lives Here did not organize the protests in Whitefish or Kalispell last week, but we are amazed at the fire that organizers in their teens and 20s brought to the work of antiracism in the Flathead Valley! The composure that they showed under extremely intense and even hostile conditions (especially Samantha Francine) was an example that we should all aspire to.
The militia groups were their own special situation, however.
Love Lives Here is very concerned that militia groups will now see this situation as a permission slip to "patrol" public events by claiming that people are coming to harm the veteran's monument. We know that they're looking for opportunities to promote the idea that they are protectors of the community and to recruit new members.
Here are a couple of points we would like local residents to remember.
1. Militia members are not an extension of law enforcement or a legitimate security group. They have no right to show up at an event and question the people who are attending.
2. The right to bear arms does not give people the right to monitor other people's First Amendment rights. We should reject any attempts to claim authority in the community.
The Montana Human Rights Network released a strong statement about this situation this week.
The Montana Human Rights Network is seriously concerned about the increased risk for violence by armed paramilitary militia activists who are showing up at otherwise peaceful protests in Montana and other rural communities, especially across the West.
The nation, including Montana, is having a serious and challenging conversation about institutional racism, but paramilitaries are not the answer to police violence because they are not accountable to elected officials and community members.
The Montana Human Rights Network has documented threats, intimidation and harassment by militia activists at racial justice protests around the state. Paramilitary militia activists are manipulating and controlling people’s right to assembly and speak with the threat of violence with firearms. These paramilitary militia activists were not asked by law enforcement or racial justice protesters to come to events armed. These militia mobs are using these events as training and recruitment opportunities.
In the situations they are creating the threat of violence is real. If one person gets offended and they have their finger on the trigger it could go very badly quickly. Inclusive democracy doesn’t happen at the barrel of a gun.
Our local and state leaders need to publicly reject the presence of armed paramilitaries at peaceful anti-racist protests held in their communities.
We don't want to get into a battle over Second Amendment rights with these folks because we know they're itching for that fight. However, they do not have the right to use their First and Second Amendment rights to control other people's freedom of expression.
ACTION ITEM!
Please contact your elected officials and let them know that you do not want a militia presence normalized for events at Depot Park or in the Flathead Valley.
When local residents and visitors see armed activists in the downtown area, they assume that Kalispell is not a welcoming, accepting place. That's bad for public safety and for business. You can contact the Kalispell City Council members using this email which goes to the mayor and all council members: citycouncil@kalispell.com.
You can contact the Flathead County Commissioners here:
- Phil Mitchell: pmitchell@flathead.mt.gov
- Pam Holmquist: pholmquist@flathead.mt.gov
- Randy Brodehl: rbrodehl@flathead.mt.gov
Thank you for all of the messages and questions you've sent to Love Lives Here about things you can do to reduce racism in the Flathead Valley! We're continually looking for ways to learn, educate, and bring people together.
You can reach out to us at info@lloveliveshereflathead.org.