Phillips County well represented at state-wide Constitutional rally

Despite the short time to prepare, Phillips County was represented at the state-wide rally sponsored by the Montana Citizens for Constitutional Freedom, joining thousands of protestors nation-wide highlighting the perceived ambush and murder of Robert LaVoy Finicum January 26 in Oregon.

Montana's effort was coordinated by John Degel of Malta. Five other country residents including: Phillip and Theresa Hotchkiss, Lorraine Seaford, Cody Mikesell and Robert Kindle.

Those six were joined by visitors from Belgrade, Roundup, Lewistown and a Helena family that came up from the Denver rally to attend the local gathering.

"Basically, we met to hold a memorial service for Finicum and then to dicuss ways we could develop a grassroots movement in Montana to address issues of concern to ranchers, farmers and other residents of Montana, " Degel said. "We had a small group -- far fewer than we anticipated -- but those who came are dedicated patriots from all walks of life."

Jena Nash Reno, state director for "Ranchers Lives Matter" also attended and addressed the gathering.

There were a number of others who had stated they were going to attend, but cancelled at the last moment for fear of government surveillance.

Ariel Rincon, girlfriend of Ryan Payne, of Anaconda, was scheduled to attend but had car trouble.

Payne was one of the men arrested for participating in the Malheur seizure. He was wounded in the same ambush in which Finicum was killed.

Finicum was the spokesman for the group led by Ammon and Randy Bundy who moved into the Malheur Wildlife Refuge to protest Bureau of Land Management (BLM) actions against a family of ranchers named Hammond and other BLM actions which have been occuring for a number of years.

The Bundys came into national prominence in 2014 when they, and approximately 300 followers, prevented BLM officials from trespassing on Cliven Bundy's ranch.

"During the discussion portion of the rally, we discussed cases involving ranchers in Oregon, Arizona and Utah named Bundy, Hage, Aderholt, Hammond and Dann," Degel said. "The group also signed a petition asking the Attorney General of the United States for a formal investigation of Finicum's death."

The shooting was video taped by the FBI and, according to most who have seen it, shows FBI and Oregon State Police shooting an allegedly unarmed Finicum who had his hands in the air.

"I got involved because I knew LaVoy personally and I know he was not a violent man," Degel said. "He was a dedicated member of his church, worked with disadvantaged youth and loved his 11 children and 19 grandchildren."

The others who attended the rally cited a number of reasons for their presence including: concerns about corrupt government, unconstitutional actions by various federal agencies and a disregard for the Constitution of the United States.

The Bundys and approximately 34 of those who stood by them are currently being held on charges ranging from terroristic threats to trespass.

The rally was covered by NPR radio and several internet news sources who interviewed Degel and others at the rally.

The group hopes to have a larger rally later this year -- possibly on July 4.

"We are learning we must stand vigilant against the encroachments of liberty by power hungry government agencies," Degel said. "We see seizures of land and water by the BLM. Who knows what the next Constitutional right they will try to usurp. Citizens for Constitutional Freedom will be watching."