We the People, respectfully ask Senator Steve Daines, Senator Tim Sheehy, Representative Troy Downing, Representative Ryan Zinke, and Governor Greg Gianforte to commit to four essential actions to protect our constitutional rights and freedoms, and support representative democracy.  These actions are to:  

1) Publicly condemn political violence.

2) Publicly support and protect the right to assemble, protest and speak.

3) Publicly support and protect due process rights.

4) Publicly condemn the use of U.S. military forces against civilians.

Publicly condemn political violence:

Political violence undermines constitutional principles and the central values of a representative democracy.  Political violence, regardless of driving ideology is meant to terrify civilians and to quash the civil discourse and debate on which our state and country depend in order to function.  Pledge to publicly condemn political violence regardless of the driving ideology of perpetrators or targets.  

Publicly support and protect the right to assemble, protest, and speak:

The United the States of America and the state of Montana exist on constitutional principles that allow for peaceful protest, assembly, and free speech.   Undermining protest and free speech threaten state and federal constitutional principles and weaken the public accountability that is necessary to a functioning representative democracy.  Pledge to publicly support policies that protect every Montanan’s and American’s right to assemble, protest, and speak and pledge to condemn actions that violate these rights.

Publicly support and protect due process rights:

Due process is a cornerstone of the state and federal constitution and a bedrock of individual freedom from government intrusion and oppression.  The weakening or violation of due process creates a crisis of confidence in the American justice system.  Pledge to use the power of your public office to protect due process rights and publicly condemn the violation of those rights.

Publicly condemn the use of US military forces against civilians:

The use of military forces against civilians is unnecessary and chilling to individual freedoms in a representative democracy.  Domestic use of the Montana National Guard and other military personnel should be reserved for natural disaster response and the protection of civilians.  Pledge to publicly condemn the use of US military forces on civilians and use the power of your public office to ensure accountability for the use of US military forces domestically. 

OUR ACTION

This petition will be delivered in person to each elected official listed above, demanding that they also sign it and affirm our rights.

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