Several rallies have sprung up in Great Falls in response to the extreme cuts to government services being implemented and proposed by the Trump administration. Thousands of federal workers have lost their jobs, federal funding for research, cuts to VA services, proposed cuts to Medicaid, and more have damaged the ability of the US government to effectively serve the people and prepare for the future.
A grassroots movement called “50501” has been helping to coordinate nationwide demonstrations since the second Trump inauguration. Well, the only real coordination the 50501 movement does is to select a date for nationwide protests. Then local organizers do all of the legwork for individual protests.
In Great Falls, several 50501-inspired rallies have been organized including a rally on March 4th, April 5th, April 19th, and one is slated for May 1st.
Images of Event Flyers for Local 50501 Rallies
I’ve attended dozens of rallies in Great Falls, and these recent rallies have been some of the largest if not the largest in our city that I’ve ever seen. For the Great Falls April 5th rally, over 800 people gathered outside the Federal Courthouse and along the Central Ave W bridge. It’s almost like the people are pissed about the reckless cuts and undermining of government services. Let’s make government more efficient and cost less by gutting it completely. Sure, that’ll work out great for….billionaires, not so much for everyday Montanans.
Of course, right wing trolls are annoyed that people aren’t worshipping their cult leader. Shit stirrers posted “just asking” questions and rounded that up to death threats. An exchange seen on Facebook was screenshot and sent to our blog a few days before the April 5th Rally. The post and alarming responses such as “I’m shooting if it gets too funny” were posted in the Ask Great Falls Montana Group. I checked and saw the post live in the group on March 30th, I saw several threatening comments be taken down or hidden by the group administrators. And now I see that the post was completely taken down.
Screenshots of Troll Comments about Great Falls April 5th Rally
It sucks when people post crap like that to be intimidating and to feel big. But activists can’t let it stop their work; we just have to be as prepared as we can be.
Likely these trolls didn’t like the outpouring of support the rally was generating. Luckily, the threats of violence never materialized and just a pathetic group of about 5 counter protesters showed up. 800 rally attendees to 5 counter protesters. Welp, it looks like a large majority of people aren’t brainwashed to wave a conman’s flag.
If people want to continue to visibly resist the current bullshit happening in our country two rallies are scheduled this coming week.
Flyer of April 29th Medicaid Rally
A Hands Off Medicaid Rally will be held in Great Falls at Noon on Tuesday, April 29th, at the Great Falls Federal Courthouse, 125 Central Ave W.
Another May Day Protest will be held on Thursday, May 1st at 5:30 PM at the Great Falls Federal Courthouse, 125 Central Ave W. The Facebook event can be found here.