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Political rally held opposing Refugee
Resettlement Resolution |
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January 9, 2016 |
A rally organized by those opposed to the County
Commissioner's recently passed resolution on
refugee resettlement attracted approximately 200
people earlier today. By one estimate, around
65% of those attending appeared to support the
purpose of the rally organizers, with the
remainder appearing to be in opposition. (This
assessment based upon where people were grouped
together, those holding signs expressing various
opinions, and other subjective judgments).
As noted, the rally also attracted indivduals in
opposition to the purpose of the gathering,
which means they supported the Commissioner's
resolution.
Several Bonners Ferry Police officers, and
Bonners Ferry Police Chief Vic Watson were also
on duty at the meeting.
Several speakers addressed the assembled crowd
from a microphone set up on the gazebo at
Georgia Mae Plaza in downtown Bonners Ferry.
Some shared accounts of discrimination and
prejudice, some expressed opinions about the
resolution, and some spoke on how the issue has
proven to be divisive in the community.
"I'm not against proper security or vetting, I'm
not even against not using county funds to
support refugees, just using federal funds,"
said Brent Dehlbom, the first speaker at the
rally. "Those are really the only two things
that this resolution that we're talking about
has to say. When you get right down to it, I
kind of don't disagree with either side on some
of the issues. I'm not against many of these
things, but the way that we've been treating
each other in this community for simply speaking
our opinions is downright wrong. All of us
should be a little bit ashamed of ourselves."
Former Bonners Ferry Mayor David Anderson, who
also addressed the group, referred to the
principle of religious freedom and its
importance in our country's history: "This
country has spent 250 years fighting racial and
gender discrimination. But the seeds that were
planted here that grew this great nation, were
religious tolerance. That's why we came here.
Our forefathers came here seeking it, the First
Amendment totally states it , and the fight will
go on and on to preserve it," said Mayor
Anderson.
Bonners Ferry High School teacher Linda Hall,
who identified herself as a Japanese American,
recounted a story of how her family experienced
a great deal of prejudice as she was growing up,
including how her family was evicted from the
ranch they owned in Wyoming shortly after the
1941 Pearl Harbor attack.
Several other speakers, as noted, shared their
perspectives and opinions on the issue. Several
of those who were present in opposition to the
rally carried signs, some of which stated:
"They Do Not Want to Coexist"
"Islam Hates the United States"
"Resistance is Fu-Tile, You Will Be Assimilated"
"Level 1: Recruit, Level 2: Infiltrate &
Corrupt, Level 3: Kill the Infidel"
"Refugees Are a Trojan Horse"
"ISIS Will Be Among Them"
"Vett 'Em or Forget 'Em"
In spite of some concerns expressed in recent
days that attempts might be made to physically
disrupt the meeting, no such activity occurred.
At several points during the speeches, the
opposition group shouted out comments that were
generally against refugee resettlement, but for
the most part, speakers were allowed to make
their comments without significant interruption.
Following the approximately 45 minute gathering,
organizers led a march across the Kootenai River
Bridge, and back again into the downtown area.
Following are several short audio clips recorded
at the meeting. You can hear these short clips
by clicking on one of the audio icons, either
MP3 format or WAV format, as listed below.
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