Page 6 - Flathead Beacon // 12.3.14
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6 | DECEMBER 3, 2014 NEWS
FLATHEADBEACON.COM
A large crowd listens to discussion at a recent Whitefish City Council meeting.
TRISTAN SCOTT FLATHEAD BEACON
Whitefish Council Considers Nondiscrimination Proposal
READER POLL
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City likely to pass good faith resolution declaring support for diversity
By TRISTAN SCOTT of the Beacon
 Following the outcry of Whitefish res-
idents over the local presence of a promi- nent white nationalist, the city council on Dec. 1 was poised to adopt a good faith res- olution declaring its support for diversity.
The council did not go so far as to adopt a “no-hate” or nondiscrimination ordi- nance, though council members discussed crafting such a measure in the near future.
According to the proposed resolution: “The Whitefish City Council declares its support of Whitefish community values that recognize and celebrate the dignity, diversity, and inclusion of all of its inhab- itants and visitors, and protect and safe- guard the right and opportunity of all per- sons to exercise their civil rights, includ- ing the rights of free speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom from discrimina- tion.”
It continues: “Nothing in this Resolu- tion is intended to alter or abridge other rights, protections, or privileges secured by state or federal law, including state and federal constitutional protections of free- dom of speech, assembly, and exercise of religion.”
The resolution comes on the heels of public testimony delivered during the council’s Nov. 17 meeting, when dozens of Whitefish residents spoke out, passionate- ly urging council members to create a “no- hate” ordinance or other anti-discrimina- tion legislation.
The residents voiced opposition to the local presence of Richard Spencer, a white nationalist who has headquartered his think-tank, the National Policy Institute, in Whitefish.
Many of the residents held signs that read “Love Lives Here,” which refers to a local affiliate of the Montana Human Rights Network that has been at the helm of efforts to adopt a measure barring Rich- ard Spencer and the not-for-profit Nation- al Policy Institute from conducting busi- ness in Whitefish.
While such an ordinance is likely to
infringe on constitutional rights to free speech, the council did hold a discussion on the possibility of adopting a nondis- crimination ordinance in the next month.
Other cities have adopted such ordi- nances to protect citizens from discrimi- nation because of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Missoula adopted its nondiscrimina- tion law in 2010, with Helena adopting a similar ordinance in 2012. Butte adopted a nondiscrimination measure in February, and Bozeman adopted one in June that is being challenged in a lawsuit against the city.
The city of Dillon voted down a nondis- crimination ordinance in September, call- ing it an overreach of the city’s authority, while Billings rejected a nondiscrimina- tion measure in August.
Love Lives Here, the local affiliate of the Montana Human Rights Network, is- sued a statement thanking the council “for its support and swift action,” and said the group intends to continue to advocate for laws to ensure that all citizens are protect- ed from intolerance and discrimination.
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