2 days Ago By Nora Shelly Chronicle Staff Writer
People packed Main Street in downtown Bozeman on Saturday for a protest against the Trump administration as part of a national series of “Hands Off!” rallies. With signs that read “United we Stand,” “Hands off our Public Lands” and “Save our Democracy,” people chanted, cheered, sang and marched up and down Main Street. Estimates of the crowd size ranged from 1,000 to 3,000, and Bozeman police reported no notable incidents.
“We are here today to register our collective objection to what the Trump administration is doing,” said organizer Jim Klingaman, to cheers from the crowd gathered at the Gallatin County Courthouse building. “We’re here today to counter what the Trump administration is doing, and also, and perhaps most importantly, to demand that our elected representatives, Daines, Sheehy and Zinke ..
. we want them to stand up.” Shane Doyle, a well-known Bozeman resident, academic and member of the Crow Tribe, spoke to the crowd before the march.
“We will not sit idly by while the First Amendment rights of our brothers and sisters are being trampled senselessly and illegally,” Doyle said. “We’re all in this together, and for the long haul, and we will keep standing and speaking.” The crowd then marched through downtown, chanting things like “hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go!” and “show me what democracy looks like, this is what democracy looks like.
” On the way, passing cars honked and revved engines — some in clear support for the protestors and others in clear opposition. The crowd had people of all ages, including children in strollers and, in typical Bozeman fashion, many dogs. Ruth Lott from Cardwell and Linda Foy from Twin Bridges were marching together down the sidewalk.
Both said they wanted to make their elected officials hear their frustrations. “Democracy is at risk on the most basic of levels,” Lott said. “If we aren’t out demonstrating, they’re going to destroy us .
.. I’m so excited there are (protests) in red-state Montana.
” “Well, it shows it's not partisan,” Foy chimed in. “It's not, it affects everybody.” Many signs took aim at widespread tariffs President Trump announced April 2, as well as Elon Musk and his “DOGE” Department of Government Efficiency, which has been behind mass layoffs of federal employees and funding cuts for government and social services programs.
Bozeman resident Ben Swartz came to the protest holding an American flag. He said he wanted to come out because he thinks it “is time for us to stand up.” Swartz said he couldn’t pick just one issue he was most upset about, but said he generally feels like the government isn’t representing the public.
“I think this kind of turnout gives hope,” Swartz said. “It’s pretty dark, so we’re here for the hope and the sunshine.” Andre Zollars, who is part of Indivisible Bozeman, spoke at the end of the rally and encouraged people to stay involved with the group and national and statewide politics.
“Today we were seen. Today we were heard. We made good trouble!” Zollars said to cheers.
“We are going to be deeply involved, not just in national politics but in what's going on in the Montana Legislature, because you all need to be paying attention.”.
