A new group that opposes government COVID-19 restrictions held a meeting of several dozen people Wednesday morning at Sykes Diner in Kalispell, one of five Flathead County businesses being sued by Gov. Steve Bullock's administration for refusing to comply with masking and social distancing mandates.

Jerry Steed, a concrete contractor from Helena, said he decided to form the Freedom Protection Project in early October after Lewis and Clark County public health officials threatened him with legal action for hosting a "Let Freedom Ring" concert in defiance of local crowd size restrictions.

Steed said his goal is to create a grassroots network of "patriots" who want to challenge public health measures and other laws they deem unconstitutional, though he insisted the Freedom Protection Project is apolitical. The group says it is registered as a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization.

"We're a nonprofit, and what we're trying to do is raise money," Steed told those assembled at Sykes Diner. "Our immediate goal is fighting these unconstitutional mandates, to stand up for small businesses that are under attack right now. All of them are under attack."

Sykes owner Ray Thompson sat in the front row during the meeting and briefly stood to address the group. He noted the pending lawsuit against his business from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, saying he is glad to finally have legal standing to pursue claims against the government.

The other businesses facing lawsuits from DPHHS are Scotty's Bar in Kalispell, the Remington Bar in Whitefish, and the Ferndale Market and Your Lucky Turn Casino in Bigfork.

Steed was joined Wednesday by Helena attorney Chris Gallus and several others named as leaders of the Freedom Protection Project. He said they also have recruited the Bopp Law Firm in Helena, "and they're ready and waiting to take this to the Supreme Court."

During an interview later Wednesday at the Glacier Jet Center, Steed said he believes the coronavirus is real but people should get to choose whether they wear masks in public.

"There's no data that actually backs up that masks work," he alleged.

However, in a statement in July, Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said cloth face coverings "are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus – particularly when used universally within a community setting. All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families and their communities."

The group also held events in Billings, Great Falls, Helena and Bozeman on Tuesday and said they were en route to Glendive on Wednesday afternoon.

KRTV in Great Falls reported Lewis and Clark Public Health received numerous complaints and asked the county attorney to pursue legal action after Steed and his brother, Joshua, organized the Oct. 3 concert in the Helena Valley. Steed refused to shut down the event when the crowd grew larger than 250 people.

In an email Wednesday, department spokesman Damian Boudreau said "the investigation – and possible action – is pending."

Reporter Chad Sokol can be reached at 758-4434 or csokol@dailyinterlake.com