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Montana Gov. Steve Bullock says first amendment rights need to be protected as Pres. Donald Trump is calling for governors to respond with force to violent protests popping up around the nation in response to the death of George Floyd.

We need to recognize that people across the country and indeed many Montanans are in pain," Bullock told reporters on a press call June 1 after sitting in on a call with the president but before Trump made public remarks later in the day. "And we need to protect avenues for people to express those first amendment rights. Doing so can be done lawfully and peacefully.

Rallies in Floyds honor and against systemic racism have popped up in several Montana cities in recent days. Those havent turned violent. But nationwide, protests have sparked violent clashes between protesters and police.

On Monday Trump called for governors to deploy the National Guard, adding if they didnt take actions to halt violent protests, hed mobilize the military.

Billings rally organizer Amber Palmer expects a peaceful, socially distant event this weekend. She says it wont require the National Guard.

I dont see the need when the protest is peaceful to deploy such serious, I guess, manpower against it," Palmer said.

She believes Trumps comments are a reaction to the riots in larger cities and comes from a place of fear. The Billings protest begins Sunday at 1 P.M.

Judith Heilman is the founder and executive director of the Montana Racial Equity Project, a Bozeman-based non-profit that helped organize Bozeman Rally for Black Lives on Sunday that drew over 1,000 people.

In response to Trumps remarks about law enforcement dominating the streets, Heilman said, I can speak to Montana about that and say, thats not necessary.

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Bullock: First Amendment Rights Need To Be Protected - MTPR