Hundreds gather in Bozeman to advocate tolerance

published on Sunday, November 1, 2009 11:16 PM MST

By JOLENE KELLER For the Chronicle

Hundreds of Bozemanites gathered in front of Willson School on Main Street Sunday afternoon to celebrate tolerance and diversity in Bozeman.

NICK WOLCOTT/CHRONICLE Bozeman residents march down 8th Street on Sunday in response to recent white supremacist activity. The Hate Free BoZone march and rally, organized by Bozeman United, began with hundreds of people marching from the intersection of Eighth Avenue and Cleveland Street on the Montana State University campus to the school. Chanting “Hey, hey, ho, ho, all this hate has got to go,” and carrying signs advocating the need for tolerance, people of all ages showed their support for a unified Bozeman. Kids jumped at the chance to get in front of the crowd to share their own chants, such as “Up with love, down with hate,” and “Two, four, six, eight, what do we appreciate? Peace! Peace! Peace!”

“We are here to demonstrate we are a community who welcomes all people. We are a community that values and respects the human dignity of all people. We are not a community who believes in one superior race. We are not a community that oppresses or crushes the human spirit. We are a community of courage that stands up to hate,” said Mayor Kaaren Jacobson, ushering in the day’s speakers. While numbers and statistics may not speak of the diversity in Bozeman, the community itself does, she said.

“If you are different than the majority, we will honor you. We will protect you. Indeed, you are all welcome here,” she said.

While not in attendance, Sen. Max Baucus showed his support in a letter addressed to the crowd.

“In Montana, a neighbor is a neighbor. When we look at each other, we just see Montanans. We will not stand by when our friends and family are being targeted,” he wrote.

Other speakers included Rabbi Ed Staffman from the Beth Shalom congregation; Travis McAdam, executive director of the Helena-based Human Rights Network; Ivie English, an MSU student; and others. In addition to the many speakers, Ethan and Ben Kline rocked the crowd with their performance of "Hate Free Zone," a song written for the rally.

The rally followed a much smaller gathering in downtown Bozeman three weeks ago, when eight members of the Creativity Movement, a white supremacist group, demonstrated at the Gallatin County Courthouse.

Speakers at the rally addressed the hate group, saying it was not welcome in Bozeman.

“If you see a different color it’s because God is creative, not the Creativity Movement!” joked the Rev. Denise Rogers, director of the Montana Hate Free Zone.

When the Creativity Movement emerged this September in Bozeman, residents and students took action. Several rallies have been held, a new student group called “We Are the Dream” was established recently at MSU, and a “Declaration of Diversity” was drafted for community members to sign at the rally.

Also in Bozeman, the Emerson Cultural Center is showcasing “Speaking Volumes: Transforming Hate,” a visual arts exhibit which encourages a re-examination of international social justice. Creations by artists from across the country reflect upon and transform white supremacist propaganda literature into thought-provoking works of art.

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