Helena was full of citizens from all four corners of the state this Monday the 30th, myself included, fired up and ready to tell their government one thing: Keep public lands in public hands. Over 1,000 people filled the Capitol and alongside them were some key speakers, of them being Governor Steve Bullock and John Tester via phone. During the time of this article's first draft, the bill was still in the process of being passed. However, just recently, with the public outcry for public lands so large, the congressman responsible for introducing the bill withdrew it entirely, but that is a topic for another article. For now, let's talk about what happened at the rally.
The rally in Helena was deafening. The entire building was filled with energy and everywhere you looked there were signs to show just what the people meant by being there. Recently, in congress, a bill was introduced to direct the Secretary of the Interior to sell approximately 3 million acres of public lands in 10 states, 100,000 of those being in Montana "and you know there is going to be more" added Steve Bullock.
Hilary Hutcheson gave an electrifying speech noting that it is the wild places that make the "wild Montana women who we are" and that public lands are vital to her as a mother, because her kids will have places to play in the outdoors and keep off of the street corners, and away from the things that all parents fear their kids will fall victim to. She is grateful that as a Montanan, we have these places to take our kids to so they can be safe from the tragedies that occur on the 6 o'clock nightly news, and they can instead have a happy, adventure filled life.
Simms CEO K.C. Walsh gave a short, to the point speech that his business success and growth is because of public lands and the people that fish generated over $900 million in revenue to the state. He continued in his speech telling that the beautiful headwaters of the Madison, Big Hole, Yellowstone, and Bitterroot Rivers all flow from Public Lands" reminding us how important Public Lands are for Rivers, and "that they provide over $600,000 in tax revenue for our state."
Senator John Tester wasn't on the phone long but what minutes he did have he assured the people of his 30+ year long pledge to protect Public Lands and to that, the people in the building roared in excitement and happiness.
Finally, a fired up Montana Governor Steve Bullock came to the stage and gave a short but impactful speech saying adamantly, "the transfer of public lands have no place in this building and no place in Montana!" he continued with hard facts stating that Montana's public lands brought $6 billion in revenue and 64,000 jobs to the state and that public lands "For our heritage, for our economy, for our quality of life; public lands aren't the problem, they're actually part of the solution." and he didn't stop there. With much enthusiasm, he exclaimed, "these lands are our heritage, these lands are our birthright, these lands are some of the finest places in the world and we don't need permission to go there because we all own them" It is very obvious to see how much he cares for the people and the public lands we all cherish. He finished his speech and the rally with a resounding statement. "I am pleased to say before you today, and say it loud and clear, I've said it before and I'll say it again- Wholesale transfer of public lands will not happen, not on my watch!"
As a person who grew up not even knowing what public lands were, they have changed my life and they make Montana feel more like home and I am proud to be a citizen of a state that prides itself on that. Today, I am proud to be Montanan and I am proud to see a government so actively listening to its people and taking a stand for us all. As Governor Bullock so well put it "It's not about politics, whether you're Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Vegetarian. These lands belong to you." This country is beautiful and precious to us all and it is our right and duty to protect them not just for us, but for generations to come.
