The Montana House has been having a debate over the banning of the gender transitioning of minor children, or “gender-affirming” care, as the Orwellian people like to term the mutilation of children. Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr — who is transgender — attacked colleagues claiming that if her colleagues supported the bill, they would have “blood on their hands.” That violated the rules of decorum for attacking colleagues.
After Zephyr’s remarks, Republican Speaker Matt Regier demanded that Zephyr apologize before being allowed to speak again in the chamber.
“Not only has my colleague violated decorum, but has broken the trust given by the other 99 Representatives,” Montana state representative Braxton Mitchell told Fox News Digital. “The hate-filled remarks were an act of self-service, not public service.”
“I applaud the Speaker and Majority Leader for giving my colleague opportunities to rectify the consequences of this stunt,” the Republican lawmaker added. “Since the hateful attack on the House, the Representative has tried to create further opportunities to seek media attention. We will not stand for it.”
In other words, they accused Zephyr of doing it for attention, much like the three Tennesee lawmakers did, who then got invited on television shows and even visited the White House on Monday. So Zephyr wasn’t allowed to speak Thursday and Friday.
On Monday, protesters then assembled trying to obstruct the official proceeding of the Montana House, flooding into the observation gallery, chanting, “Let her speak!” They brought things to a standstill as the legislators were trying to get a bill about banning minors from drag shows. It’s insane that that’s even a question. But that’s what’s going on now — that’s what radicals are for, it seems.
BREAKING: The Montana House of Reps has been shut down by left-wing protesters who are there protesting the censure of transgender Democrat Rep. Zooey Zephyr, that was led by the @MTFreedomCaucus, for telling his Republican colleagues they have "blood on their hands" for passing… pic.twitter.com/MnOyO4FhlN
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 24, 2023
Left-wing protesters bang on the doors to the Montana House Gallery. They are there protesting a @MTFreedomCaucus led effort to censure a transgender Democrat who told them they had "blood on their hands" for banning child mutilation. pic.twitter.com/WhqPbg23dm
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 24, 2023
Zephyr held up a non-functioning mic, appearing to encourage and support the actions of the protesters.
Zephyr, meanwhile, was standing in the middle of the room holding up a microphone as the Speaker kept denying him the ability to speak. pic.twitter.com/5G3WZVxkjB
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 24, 2023
Scenes of multiple law enforcement agencies forcibly removing protestors from the House Gallery of the Montana State Capitol. #mtleg pic.twitter.com/qgqcdylKYe
— Thom Bridge (@thom_g_bridge) April 24, 2023
@ZoAndBehold alone on the House Floor holds the mic as protestors are removed and arrested in the gallery. Protestors interrupted proceedings after the trans representative was again unacknowledged during debate. #mtleg pic.twitter.com/D7duEnJXRU
— Thom Bridge (@thom_g_bridge) April 24, 2023
But it didn’t end well for the radicals. They forget it’s Montana where law enforcement does arrest people, unlike in many Democratic-operated areas.
Here’s a pic of protesters being cuffed by police for shutting down the Montana House of Reps today. pic.twitter.com/5Dn9pSW0HP
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 24, 2023
They were forcibly removed from the gallery.
Scenes of protestors being arrested in the House Gallery of the Montana State Capitol. Protestors interrupted proceedings after @ZoAndBehold was again unacknowledged during debate. Five arrests reported. #mtleg pic.twitter.com/dGQPZJS7a0
— Thom Bridge (@thom_g_bridge) April 24, 2023
Scenes of multiple law enforcement agencies forcibly removing protestors from the House Gallery of the Montana State Capitol. #mtleg pic.twitter.com/qgqcdylKYe
— Thom Bridge (@thom_g_bridge) April 24, 2023
This very genteel officer was trying to explain what happened and noted referred to the protester as “she” and “her” as her friends then yelled out that she goes by “they.”
Left-winger protesters in Montana get mad at a police officer for calling a protester arrested for shutting down the House of Reps “her” instead of “they”
pic.twitter.com/LDsIPVNUM1— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 24, 2023
For some reason the police also let them pontificate to the media before they were taken away, which was a little ridiculous. These folks just disrupted an official proceeding — take them off to the hoosegow.
The arrested left-wing activists in Montana were allowed to give statements to the press before being taken away. pic.twitter.com/GTbhy4jNvu
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 24, 2023
At least seven protesters were arrested on Monday, according to the Helana Independent Record. Police from the Montana Highway Patrol, and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Officers, were involved.
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said there were seven arrests for criminal trespass. All were arrested by the Montana Highway Patrol. Dutton said via a text message “MHP is doing the paperwork now and we will book and release without requiring bond.”
Criminal trespass is a misdemeanor, Dutton said.
Zephyr had met with the protesters beforehand outside the building, so this may be another example of a legislator encouraging such actions to disrupt an official proceeding.
Amazing video emerging from Montana. The crowd size continues to grow in support of Rep Zephyr after the Montana House Speaker has silenced her and refuses to recognize her in any bill moving forward. pic.twitter.com/b7TOp9awJ0
— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) April 24, 2023
The front of the Montana Capital Building has had a banner stretched across it with “Democracy Dies Here” over the Speaker denying Rep Zooey Zephyr the right to speak on any bill moving forward. pic.twitter.com/4A48FCcokC
— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) April 24, 2023
Democrats are encouraging such “insurrections,” from Joe Biden on down. It isn’t “democracy,” the radicals are disrupting the real democratic process.
Today was a clear example of self service. Not public service. #mtpol pic.twitter.com/hKSfNovqDC
— Montana Freedom Caucus (@MTFreedomCaucus) April 24, 2023
