Intimidation during public protest Public Comment from Eleanor NewellFrom:Ellie Newell
To:Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL] Intimidation during public protest
Date:Monday, July 6, 2020 7:01:42 PM
Dear City Councilors,
I'm writing to relate my experiences during the Black Lives Matter protest at Depot Park on
June 6th.
Media reports of the militias' role during that event do not capture their true intent:intimidation.
While I stood near Center Street, far from the Veterans' Memorial that militias claimed to be
there to protect, many heavily armed people circled me and wove in and out of the BlackLives Matter protesters. The weapons that they carried were there as a show of force:
enormous knives, baseball bats, pepper sprays, hand guns, and long guns. Although I washighly vigilant, I frequently turned around to find various men holding semiautomatic rifles
standing five feet behind or fewer behind me, grinning. It was, frankly, terrifying.
I have attended peaceful protests in Montana all my life; I have never needed and do not needarmed civilians to "protect" me - as members of these groups claimed. These groups' claims on
public forums like Facebook that they were there in collaboration with law enforcement weredangerous lies. They have no legal mandate and no public oversight. Their true motivations
are rooted in the far-right militia movements, white supremacy, and anti-government rhetoric.
Their presence during the Black Lives Matter protest was as loud and clear as a burning cross:any threats to white supremacy will be met with violence.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Newell
1111 8th Ave E, Kalispell