Protesters in Kalispell hold town hall with mannequins in place of congressmen

Protesters lobbed questions at mannequins representing Montana’s Congressional delegation outside Congressman Ryan Zinke’s Kalispell office on Tuesday evening.  

The “empty chair” town hall in Courthouse Park mirrored demonstrations across the country after GOP leadership advised Republican lawmakers earlier this month to forsake in-person, public meetings with constituents. The recommendation came after videos of crowds angry over cuts implemented by President Donald Trump spread across social media.  

Roughly 60 people attended the demonstration, taking turns directing questions and complaints at plastic figures meant to represent Zinke and Sens. Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines, all Republicans. Questions ranged from concerns over federal cuts to Social Security and Medicare to efforts to suppress diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. 

The demonstration was organized by the newly formed group Flathead Democracy.  Event details were circulated through the Flathead Valley chapter of Indivisible, a national progressive group that has organized protests targeting Trump and his billionaire advisor Elon Musk.  

“Progressive organizers have been encouraging folks in their communities to hold an ‘empty chair’ town hall,” said Leanette Galaz, an organizer with Flathead Democracy. “Invite your community members. Invite them to bring their questions and concerns that they would bring to their congressmen or congresswomen if they were to hold one. It’s a chance to hear from one another and build community.” 

Protestors expressed dissatisfaction with the Trump administration, condemnation of Musk’s effort to downsize government, and the sentiment that Montana’s representatives were not responding to constituent concerns.  

Signs displayed at the protest advocated for protecting of public land, defending democracy and protesting the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk’s government cost-cutting agency.    

Placed on a lawn chair in the backdrop of the Historic Flathead County Courthouse was a faux Sheehy dressed in a beige coat and button up dress shirt. To its right, leaning against a tree, a mannequin meant to impersonate Zinke was adorned with a black Western hat and matching boots. A mock Daines was dressed in jeans, a button-down shirt and boots as well. 

Protester Dave Went impersonated Sheehy in a speech criticizing the senator for his rhetoric against clean energy and for supporting Trump’s cabinet picks including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.  

Bronson Willcut, a Flathead High School sophomore, attended the rally with a large American flag. He said he was protesting federal policies stripping away funding for public schools.  

Zinke took questions from students about the Trump administration’s proposed overhaul of the Department of Education at an event at Glacier High School last week. Trump has vowed to dismantle the federal agency, which cast off about half of its workforce earlier this month. Zinke told the students that federal funding for schools would continue but be rerouted through the states rather than a department of the federal government.  

A fired and later rehired U.S. Forest Service worker from Washington, D.C., attended the protest. The worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said they visited Kalispell each summer while working as a seasonal employee.  

“Our public lands are like such a big part of what makes Montana the place [that] people want to be. So, I feel like our elected officials' responses to all of us should reflect that.”  

The Forest Service agency terminated thousands of probationary employees as part of Trump’s government cuts, but a federal judge recently ordered their reinstatement.  

Many at the demonstration complained that their attempts to reach Montana’s Congressional delegation were met with voicemail boxes or form letters.  

"When you try and call the office for Zinke, Daines and Sheehy, in my experience it’s generally just a voicemail, and the call is not returned” Galaz said.  

Zinke’s Chief of Staff, Heather Swift, said that the congressman has held a series of radio town halls with open phone lines over the past several months. The former Navy SEAL was in Bozeman on the day of the protest in Kalispell meeting with veteran constituents.  

Swift dismissed the protesters as “crazy liberal activists” with “nothing better to do with their time except yell at folks driving by” Zinke’s office. She said Zinke regularly meets with constituents.  

“Zinke participates in dozens of meetings with Montana law enforcement, veterans, small businesses, civic organizations, student groups and others every month; he hosts hour long radio town halls that are posted on his government social media ahead of time and anyone can call in to,” Swift said. 

A spokesperson for Sheehy said that the senator encourages people to contact his office for constituent services. Sheehy does not plan his schedule around protesters, the spokesperson said.  

Rachel Dumke, a spokesperson for Daines, told the Inter Lake that the senator hosts statewide town halls for thousands of Montanans.  

“Daines also attends public meetings across the state frequently, just a few weeks ago he met with Montanans in Bozeman. On top of that, he highly values hearing from Montanans via phone call, email, fax or letter and works to get each Montanan a timely response,” Dumke said. “The groups planning these protests do not unilaterally control the Senator’s schedule, however as always he appreciates hearing their concerns.” 

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.