"Secret" Christian Coalition Rally Gets Public Attention
When the Montana Christian Coalition held a rally on February 29, it wanted only like-minded groups protesting recent rulings by the Montana Supreme Court. To keep opposition away, Julie Millam, director of the Montana coalition, sent a letter to members urging them to keep the event private, because she didn't want any counter protests.
"Be discreet and tell only people that you know and inform them not to tell the press," Millam wrote. "We also ask that the signs people use will be approved by the steering committee so that we don't get negative press."
Millam didn't take her own advice. Bob Campbell, volunteer host for a live radio show sponsored by the Helena Human Rights Task Force, called Millam in early February and asked her to be a guest on the show on February 29. Millam said she couldn't make it because the coalition was planning a rally.
"She was really excited about it," Campbell said. "She told me all the names of the groups that were coming and how many people she expected." However, when Campbell called back to confirm another speaker, Millam told him that the rally was canceled, saying there wasn't enough interest to have the rally.
Despite Millam's claim that the event had been canceled, there was a rally. There were about 20 speakers, representing groups from Montana Right to Life to the Eagle Forum. Five state legislators spoke at the event -- Duane Grimes, Rick Jore, Brad Molnar, Scott Orr, and Verdell Jackson. The Republican gubernatorial candidates were represented. Rob Natelson was there in person, and Arlette Randash, lobbyist for the right-wing Eagle Forum, read a statement by Judy Martz.
The speakers protested recent court rulings that overturned the sodomy law and declared CI-75 unconstitutional. CI-75 would have made people vote on any tax increase and was backed heavily by Natelson. On the rulings, Millam claimed, "The court isn't as concerned with the Constitution as with passing its own liberal agenda." She then quoted the Bible, saying that God is the only true judge.
Joe Balyeat, Montanans for Better Government and a candidate for HD 32, made the most colorful remarks about the justices, calling them "seven political terrorists in black robes" and "seven supreme despots" in his five-minute speech. He also called for a constitutional convention to redraft the "liberal 1972 constitution."
The rally drew about 120 people.