News
Protestors march in pro-choice rally through Big Sky
Published
2 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Bella Butler MANAGING EDITOR
BIG SKY –Traffic came to a stop on Lone Mountain Trail on July 4 as nearly 150 protesters marched across the road where the sheriff had protected the crosswalk.
“Women’s rights are human rights!” they chanted as they thrust homemade signs painted with phrases like “My body my choice” and “Abortion is healthcare” into the air. Inside the first stopped car, a family eagerly unbuckled their seatbelts and two women jumped out to join the demonstration.
Organized by Big Sky resident Sophie Walder, the women’s march was held on the Fourth of July to protest the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 24 decision to reverse Roe v. Wade, a case that when decided by the Court in 1973 declared abortion as a constitutional right. The march began at the Big Sky Community Park and ended in Len Hill Park, where local lawyer and former Montana Legislature staff member Erin Bills discussed the impact of the court’s decision on Montanans and what abortion bills state lawmakers may have in store.
Before leading them in the march, Walder addressed the protesters from atop softball bleachers.
“The future that lies ahead is completely unknown,” Walder said to the protesters before leading them in the march. “And the only thing left that we can do now is fight and keep fighting and let our voices be heard.”
Walder said Fourth of July is one of her favorite holidays for it’s communal and celebratory tone, but this year felt different, she said in a July 5 interview.
“This year, obviously with everything going on there was a big shadow that you had to confront, especially as a woman.” Inspired by other protests taking place around the country on July 4, she decided to bring the concept to her own community.
“What better way to celebrate your independence than fighting for your equality?” Walder said.
Walder said every business in Big Sky she approached for help was eager to pitch in.
Big Sky Print and Ship donated posters, the Hungry Moose Market & Deli donated snacks and water, Mountain and Canyon Cab Co. donated a shuttle service and Santosha Wellness Center hosted protesters for sign-making.
At the park before the march, children peered over people’s shoulders as they made final touches on their signs. Big Sky local Chris Bracht sat crisscross on the ground, intently drawing a uterus with a sharpie on a piece of cardboard.
“As a veteran, I fought for your rights,” said Bracht, who served in the army. “I gave up six years of my life for all of these women, for all of you, to have the right to choose what’s done with your body. I stand in solidarity with all the women in my life … I feel like it’s probably the most patriotic thing I could do on a day where I don’t feel like America deserves a birthday.”
Another Big Sky resident, Ryleigh Copeland, sat beside Bracht with a pink sign that read “Bans off our bodies.”
“[Protesting] lets people know that we have a voice and we’re angry and we’re hurt, and we want to be heard,” she said.
After having lived most of their lives with the protection of the Roe v. Wade decision, other protesters said they never could’ve envisioned they would be protesting its reversal in 2022.
“I can’t believe my daughters and granddaughters have less rights than I did,” said Cyndee Button.
Standing next to Button, Vicki Davies nodded with a stern expression on her face. “[The Supreme Court has] taken away the freedoms and liberties that we’ve had for 50-plus years,” she said. “It’s Fourth of July. I don’t feel very patriotic right now about my country because as a woman, I feel attacked in my power, and they’re trying to control me and my choices.”
After grabbing snacks and water at the park, protesters hit the pavement and followed Walder in protest chants for roughly 1.5 miles.
As the march snaked down the bike path along Lone Mountain Trail, cars laid on their horns as they drove by, some drivers sticking thumbs up out the window and others a thumbs down. According to protester Abigail Kull, it was an emotional experience.
“This is a really amazing turnout for our little community,” she said as horns blared in the background. “This is important. We’re here. Opinions need to be shared. We have emotions that need to be shared and we’re angry.”
At Len Hill Park, the march disbanded as protesters huddled around the stage to hear Bills speak.
“What we’re seeing here today is active participation in democracy,” said Bills, a fourth-generation Montanan who’s lived in Big Sky on and off for 20 years.
In addition to being a lawyer, Bills is also an epidemiologist and has spent much of her career working on improving access to healthcare in rural Montana, especially for women and children.
On stage, Bills explained how the Supreme Court’s recent decision puts regulatory power related to abortion in the hands of the states. Bills said she expects to see many bills attempting to restrict access to abortion in the next Montana legislative session and encouraged protesters to consider their opportunities to engage with the issue outside of the march including voting and testifying at bill hearings.
“In Big Sky, Montana, you have just as much of a voice as a member in Helena,” Bills said in an interview. “And the visitors that leave here that go back to their home state, they have a voice in those places too, whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, both sides have a voice, and they need to use them through the political process.”
The day after the march, Bills recalled the women jumping out of their car at the road crossing to join the protest, a moment she said brought tears to her eyes.
“To me,” she said, “that just shows that there’s a lot of people in our community, both residents and visitors, that need a platform to share what they believe in—to exercise their right.”
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716