Great Falls in Solidarity with Whitefish, Montana

In the last few days the Great Falls, Montana, City Commission and Montana's governor, state attorney general, US representative, and senators have all announced that they stand in solidarity with the town of Whitefish, which was threatened by white nationalists. A march against the Jewish community of Whitefish by neo-Nazis was announced for Martin Luther King Day, but as of now the march may not actually take place.

Commissioners read a proclamation January 3 that was met with resounding applause from meeting attendees. The proclamation stated that the commissioners "express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the ongoing struggle to free this world of the ideas and conduct that served to undermine a free and virtuous society, and to those who would promote these false ideas long since rejected by civilized peoples, we say and I use the words as they are spoken in Hebrew…never again." The commissioners cited George Washington's letter to the Jews of Newport, Rhode Island promising religious freedom in the newly founded country. (source1, source2: Radio Station KPAX Missoula, and Tablet Magazine.)

Here is the full statement from state officials via KPAX:

December 27, 2016

Dear Fellow Americans,

As we close out this year and look toward the future, we as Montana’s elected leaders are focused on the values that reflect our true character. Therefore, we condemn attacks on our religious freedom manifesting in a group of anti-Semites. We stand firmly together to send a clear message that ignorance, hatred and threats of violence are unacceptable and have no place in the town of Whitefish, or in any other community in Montana or across this nation. We say to those few who seek to publicize anti-Semitic views that they shall find no safe haven here.

We offer our full support to the Jewish community, Montana families, businesses, faith organizations and law enforcement officers as they ensure the security of all our communities. We will address these threats directly and forcefully, putting our political differences aside to stand up for what's right. That's the Montana way, and the American way.

Rest assured, any demonstration or threat of intimidation against any Montanan’s religious liberty will not be tolerated. It takes all Montanans working together to eradicate religious intolerance.

We are encouraged that so many Montanans from a variety of religious backgrounds have joined us in condemning this extreme ideology.

God bless the great state of Montana and the United States of America.

U.S. Senator Jon Tester

U.S. Senator Steve Daines

U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke

Governor Steve Bullock

Attorney General Tim Fox