Hundreds of Flathead residents join nationwide protests

HAILEY SMALLEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 months AGO

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 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 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)

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 [email protected] 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 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)