HELENA — Protesters peacefully gathered outside the Helena Capitol on Wednesday to show their support for President Donald Trump.
The protest happened at the same time as violence unfolded at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. with Trump supporters storming the building. An act that has been condemned by Sen. Daines, Sen. Tester, Rep. Rosendale and Vice President Pence.
Helena protesters MTN spoke with had differing feelings on the situation at the U.S. Capitol. Some condemned the violence while many said they would be right there in the Capitol were they in D.C.
All of the protesters we spoke with did not believe the results of the 2020 Presidential Election were legitimate, even though officials, including some inside the Trump administration, have disputed claims of widespread voter fraud.
“I came out today to support our president,” said Rob Rule. “I feel like the election was robbed from him. He has fought for us the last four years. I have many friends that support President Trump but say they wish he would cut down on the tweets.”
There was some singing and chanting on Wednesday as passing drivers honked horns to show support. Well over a hundred people were in attendance at its peak and the event mostly dispersed by 3 p.m.
Demonstrators told us they felt like their voices have not been heard and Trump supporters are being misrepresented in the media.
“This here today is how Trump supporters are,” said K’le MacDonald from Bozeman. “We don’t go through and break buildings. We don’t go burning buildings down, we don’t go and hurt people and hurt their property. We’re not like that. That’s not how Trump wanted us to be.”
“We are not going to go smash storefronts or hurt Americans, but we are going to take our country back,” said Serena Robertson of Great Falls. “And if that’s our last avenue to do -- but if they follow our constitution the way it is written we shouldn’t have to do anything.”
Many of those in attendance at the Helena protest said they weren’t aware of any official gathering and just wanted to come show their support for the president during the electoral certification.
Rallies in favor of President Trump were also held on Wednesday in Billings, Kalispell and Missoula.
