Plains residents hold rally to support law officers
Plains resident Denny Powley shows his support for law enforcement officers Friday afternoon during a rally in Plains. (Scott Shindledecker/Valley Press)
Plains resident Sally Lilja waves to U.S. flags Friday afternoon on Montana 200 during a rally to support law enforcement officers. (Scott Shindledecker/Valley Press)
Sanders County resident Shelly Rummel waves a pair of U.S. flags and displays a sign showing support for law officers Friday afternoon in Plains during a rally. (Scott Shindledecker/Valley Press)
Even as some city officials across the country consider disbanding police departments, residents of Plains, Montana took to the street Friday afternoon to let everyone know how they feel about law enforcement officers in Sanders County.
“Everybody knows there’s a big anti-law enforcement movement across the country, which I don’t agree with,” said lifelong Plains resident Sally Lilja. ”They’re not perfect, but they are important.
“I thought they’d appreciate a show of support and Becky agreed,” she said referring to close friend Becky Powley.
Powley and her husband, Denny, were with Lilja and about one dozen others who waved U.S. flags and held banners supporting law officers and the country.
“We’ve had a great response,” Becky said. “When we started I had goose bumps. I’m tired of publicity about bad poilice. 99.9 percent are good officers.
“Defunding police departments is assinine,” Powley said. “When people are in trouble, who are they gonna call if there are no police?”
Rallies opposing and supporting police have been held across the country in the wake of the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Former police officer Derek Chauvin was charged with murder in Floyd’s death after video footage showed the officer kneeling on the man’s neck for nine minutes until he suffocated.
Last Friday’s rally was also one of support for the United States, according to organizers.
“We’re also supporting the USA,” Lilja said. “Patriotism and the flag seems to not be valued the way it was when I was young. I don’t like the lack of respect for the flag or our country.
“We’ve had a terrific response and there are a lot of people who feel like me. I am just concerned that some law officers are all portrayed the same,” Lilja said.
A small group of students held a protest in Plains June 1 with some holding ‘Black Lives Matter’ signs while others displayed American flags. The event was peaceful, but it clearly stirred feelings in other residents.
“I’ve never seen anything like this here,” Lilja said.
Cars and trucks which drove through Plains honked their horns in support of the rally. One unidentified man who claimed police officers had shot his father tried to interact with ralliers, but he was generally ignored.
