Protesters in Kalispell rally against Trump's government shakeup

HAILEY SMALLEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 10 months, 2 weeks AGO

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

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 [email protected].

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