“I hope the next time there’s an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands.”
- Representative Zooey Zephyr, Trans Montanan
On April 18, Montana State Representative, Zooey Zephyr made this statement. This indecent and incendiary statement caused her to be banned from speaking again. She spoke these words in a debate last week concerning legislation to prevent minor children from being treated with gender-transition drugs and surgeries. Zooey Zephyr is the first transgender State Representative in Montana. The banning of Zephyr caused for a riot on Monday in the Capitol city of Helena, Montana.
At least seven demonstrators were arrested at the Montana State Capitol on Monday after a raucous crowd interrupted the legislature with a noisy protest to support a transgender lawmaker who was suspended from speaking on the floor for incendiary remarks.
Rep. Zooey Zephyr, 34, was shown raising a microphone in the air on the House floor as Montana Highway Patrol officers sought to restore order while a mob of about 100 activists in the gallery chanted “Let her speak!”
The seven protesters were charged with criminal trespass and released without bond, the Helena Independent Record reported.
Transgender Montana lawmaker Zooey Zephyr was again prevented from taking part in debate over a measure banning gender-affirming care for minors as her supporters brought the House session to a halt — chanting “Let her speak!” from the gallery. https://t.co/J6SGW8BJZy pic.twitter.com/GlEZFoFYHb
— ABC News (@ABC) April 25, 2023
“When my constituents and community members witnessed my microphone being turned off, they courageously came forward to defend their democratic rights to be heard – and some were arrested in the process,” the Missoula Democratic lawmaker said in a statement. “I stood by them in solidarity and continue to do so.”
House Speaker Matt Regier, House Majority Leader Sue Vinton, and Speaker Pro Tempore Rhonda Knudsen issued a statement afterward thanking law enforcement and reconfirming their commitment to “decorum, safety and order.”
Senate Bill 99 passed, but Mr. Regier cited the comments as a breach of decorum and said the lawmaker must issue an apology before being recognized again.
Today was a clear example of self service. Not public service. #mtpol pic.twitter.com/hKSfNovqDC
— Montana Freedom Caucus (@MTFreedomCaucus) April 24, 2023
The Montana Freedom Caucus called Monday for “immediate disciplinary action against Democrat Representative Zooey Zephyr of Missoula,” who they said was “encouraging an insurrection.”
“The Montana Freedom Caucus condemns the actions of violent protesters at the capitol building today,” said the caucus of conservative Republicans in a statement. “The actions of a small minority of people disrupted the business of all Montanans and continues to show why we must enforce rules of decorum when engaged in public debate.”
The caucus also said that “Representative Zephyr encouraged these actions by standing in the middle of the floor encouraging an insurrection after all members were told to move to the sides and clear the House gallery to remain in a safe location.”
A spokesperson for the Governor Greg Gianforte’s office has said:
The governor believes the representative’s comments were inappropriate, and this is a matter for the legislature to resolve. Every minute the legislature spends on this is a minute they aren’t working on legislators’ important bills or Montanans’ priorities.
Montana’s Republican party is also weighing in on the events with the following statement:
“House Republicans condemn violence and will always stand for civil debate and respect for our processes of government. Today’s riot by far-left agitators damages our discourse and endangered legislators and staff. Their actions did not represent Montana values. We want to thank our law enforcement for maintaining order and protecting the safety of everyone at the Capitol. House Leadership will still stand firm in our commitment to decorum, safety, and order. We will uphold the people’s will that sent 68 Republicans to Helena.” – Rep. Matt Regier, Rep. Rhonda Knudsen and Rep. Sue Vinton jointly
Looks like an Insurrection to me. Lock’em up.
Ready my lips you leftist dud freak Zooy Zephyr do not claim your a woman cause your not and you DO insult every biological REAL WOMAN in the world you have mental issues thinking you have a right to invade our space we the Real Women of the World denounce you MAN! And I AM standing up for the children take your filthy trans ideology as shove it they will have a normal childhood despite your lies!! My 29 grandkids all the kids who have supporting parents say stay away from OUR children just so you know there are more parents than their are Trans!! I Am WOMAN Hear Me ROAR!