MISSOULA – A group of around 30 protesters with Missoula Rises and the Western Montana Democratic Socialists of America (WesternMT-DSA) rallied at the offices for the Republican Party of Missoula on Brooks Street Friday in opposition to U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanugh.
Missoula Police were called at 1:54 p.m. when office managers say they saw protesters on the roof attempting to hang banners from the side of the building, but the protesters were not on top of the building when police arrived.
Instead, eight of the Democratic Socialist members sat inside the building and refused to leave.
There was a peaceful discussion between the group and the police, and the group did eventually leave the building.
All eight that chose to go inside of the office were cited for criminal trespassing.
Missoula Rises issued a press release ahead of Friday’s rally, denouncing what they called the Republican Party’s “callous” treatment of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford after she came forward with her allegation of sexual assault by Kavanaugh.
“Mr. Bret (sic) Kavanaugh has proven he does not have the temperament necessary to be a Judge and after his performance at the hearing with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford he showed that he would bring an overt partisan voice to the US Supreme Court, forever tarnishing the people’s support in its rulings. He is the wrong choice for a lifetime appointment and we will work to unseat anyone who votes for him,” Missoula Rises said in their release.
On Twitter, the regional field director of the Montana Republican Party, Kelsey Cooley, responded.
“Democratic Socialists of America disrupted our workday here at the office this afternoon. Every citizen has the right to peacefully protest, but not on private property where it inhibits our business operations,” she wrote.
Democratic Socialists of America disrupted our workday here at the office this afternoon. Every citizen has the right to peacefully protest, but not on private property where it inhibits our business operations. #MTPOL https://t.co/LfsVOsRmPH
— Kelsey Cooley (@cooleykels) October 5, 2018
Story by Lauren Heiser, MTN News
