KALISPELL — A community monument in Kalispell’s Woodland Park was vandalized with swastikas over the Thanksgiving holiday leaving community residents searching for answers.
The Spirit Community Monument, which embodies the community spirit of the Flathead Valley, was vandalized for the second time in two months.
Love Lives Here, a Flathead Valley Group that is part of the Montana Human Rights Network, addressed concerns and discussed ways to help at Monday evening’s Kalispell City Council meeting.
Love Lives Here community organizer Cherilyn DeVries says the community needs to stick together to combat hate speech.
“White supremacists want to be able to define Kalispell as a safe place for them to operate and get more followers, and we’re here to say ‘no, that’s not okay‘,” said DeVries
Residents voiced concerns to Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson and city council members about ways to combat hate speech in the Flathead Valley during Monday evening's meeting.
People are asked to contact law enforcement if they come across hate speech or vandalism.
