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Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds of Flathead residents join nationwide protests
Apr. 5—Hundreds of Flathead Valley residents marched through downtown Kalispell on Saturday to protest the Trump administration. Four local groups, Flathead Democracy, 50501MT, Indivisible and Flathead Democrats, organized the event to coordinate with more than 1,300 other Hands Off! protests across the U.S. According to Leanette Galaz, an organizer with Flathead Democracy, about 750 individuals had registered for the Kalispell event by Friday afternoon. On Saturday, participants swarmed around the gazebo in Depot Park. Many held cardboard signs urging the federal government to take its "hands off" social services, education and public lands. Others held American flags turned upside down to signal distress. While participants cited various reasons for attending the protest, all expressed frustration and discomfort with actions President Trump has taken during his first few months in office. Eleanore Eberts is a fifth-generation Montanan with a farm on the Flathead River. Several of her elderly relatives rely on Social Security benefits, and Eberts doubts she will be able to make up the financial deficit as the recently imposed tariffs have stalled the sale of her grain crop. "I don't know how I'm going to feed my family," said Eberts. Bigfork resident Heidi Goldsberry said she was protesting on behalf of her daughter, who is married to a military serviceman. She worries about the benefits the family receives through the Department of Veterans Affairs, especially as the couple has already faced challenges accessing services like child care on the military base where they live. Despite the impending uncertainty, Goldsberry said she felt unusually optimistic watching the crowd of protestors pour into Depot Park. "I've never felt so good about it," she said. "It makes me feel like there's a little bit of hope." Spirits remained high as the organizers gave speeches and led songs from the park's gazebo, their voices occasionally drowned out by the horns of passing motorists. While a few drivers made their opposition to the protest known, the event peacefully dispersed around 2 p.m. Galaz said the organizations will continue to host regular events to protest the federal administration and encourage comradery among residents. "It just shows how much people care about their community," Galaz said about the attendance at Saturday's event. "The big challenge ahead of us is channeling this energy into community building." Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at hsmalley@ or 758-4433. Demonstrators gather for a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park after making their way up the length of Main Street in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators walk along Main Street toward Depot Park during a "Hands Off" protest in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators walk along Main Street toward Depot Park during a "Hands Off" protest in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators walk along Main Street toward Depot Park during a "Hands Off" protest in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators gather for a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park after making their way up the length of Main Street in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators gather for a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park after making their way up the length of Main Street in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators gather for a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park after making their way up the length of Main Street in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators gather for a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park after making their way up the length of Main Street in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Demonstrators make their way up Main Street in Kalispell for a "Hands Off" protest in Depot Park on Saturday, April 5. (Derrick Perkins/Daily Inter Lake) Motorists shout at demonstrators attending a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Derrick Perkins/Daily Inter Lake) Motorists shout at demonstrators attending a "Hands Off" protest at Depot Park in Kalispell on Saturday, April 5. (Derrick Perkins/Daily Inter Lake)
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protesters in Kalispell rally against Trump's government shakeup
Feb. 11—About a hundred people gathered in downtown Kalispell on Monday to protest the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk's efforts to reshape the federal government. Braving frigid temperatures, demonstrators arrived at the intersection of Main and Third streets about noon to push back on what event co-organizer Leanette Galaz considered an overreach of executive power. "We don't agree on everything," said Galaz. "But as you can see from the signage, we agree we don't want an authoritative government." The protest mirrored other demonstrations in opposition to the Trump-led changes roiling Washington, D.C., including a Feb. 5 protest at the statehouse in Helena. In the few weeks since resuming office, Trump — with help from Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency — has sought to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, slashed or frozen federal spending and induced government employees to leave their positions. The flurry of unilateral activity, slammed by opponents as unconstitutional, has resulted in dozens of court cases across the country. In Kalispell on Feb. 10, protestors hoisted signs calling for the removal of Musk, who has been named a special government employee by the White House, and objecting to federal spending cuts implemented under his watch. A few motorists honked as they drove by the demonstration. Former middle school teacher Anne Castren said cuts to public health research funding concerned her. She is enrolled in a trial for stage IV lung cancer, which she worried would be canceled along with other research programs. "What's happening is going to impact Democrats and Republicans alike," said Castren. Debbi Gilsoul said she was anxious about Trump's efforts to implement harsher border control policies. Gilsoul was born and raised in Kalispell, but said she supported immigrant families and worried about recent accounts of racial and ethnic profiling. "I'm very frightened," she said. "I feel like our democracy is being overtaken by people who don't know what's going on." Chair of the Flathead Democratic Party Ron Gerson said his concern goes beyond party politics. He worried about the unprecedented moves the administration has taken during its short tenure. "This isn't really a political thing," said Gerson. "This is just a groundswell of folks that are fed up with what's happening." Galaz said there would be more protests in the coming weeks, though the group had no firm plans yet. "As long as people will come, there's a reason to organize," said Galaz. Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at hsmalley@ Attendees of a Defend Democracy rally hold signs along Main Street in downtown Kalispell on Monday, Feb. 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Attendees of a Defend Democracy rally hold signs along Main Street in downtown Kalispell on Monday, Feb. 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Attendees of a Defend Democracy rally hold signs along Main Street in downtown Kalispell on Monday, Feb. 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Attendees of a Defend Democracy rally hold signs along Main Street in downtown Kalispell on Monday, Feb. 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Attendees of a Defend Democracy rally hold signs along Main Street in downtown Kalispell on Monday, Feb. 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Attendees of a Defend Democracy rally hold signs along Main Street in downtown Kalispell on Monday, Feb. 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Attendees of a Defend Democracy rally hold signs along Main Street in downtown Kalispell on Monday, Feb. 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider Attendees of a Defend Democracy rally hold signs along Main Street in downtown Kalispell on Monday, Feb. 10. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake) Casey Kreider
