Organizers of the upcoming “No Kings” rally in Helena say that a new state rule banning permits for weekend rallies on the Capitol grounds violates their First Amendment rights. State officials countered that the new rule, quietly instituted just last month, was intended to save money.
The update to permitting guidelines on the Montana.gov site, which has not been previously reported, states that public events requiring a permit “may only occur on weekdays and between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., excluding holidays.”
The revisions apply to all state-owned or leased spaces or grounds at the Capitol Complex. The policy requires a permit for any public event that uses “state resources, requires setup of any structures, materials, displays, or requires clean-up.” A public event is defined as “any event that is open to the public and to which the public will have full access.”
I heard there IS one, but the location keeps changing. People should have their gear handy and take their signs and see which one is up and running. Just walk between all the rumoured locations (safely using crosswalks, of course) all day.
You’re not gathering in protest: you haven’t found the venue yet. But you’ll tell everyone to go home when you get there. Thank you officer.
Well montana is big. I would guess it would be in multiple locations.