This Friday will see the public protest to the recent announcement of the banning of spectators from attending high school sports and activities. As no additional answers were clarified in this evening’s press conference with Riverstone Health officer John Felton, plans are already underway to protest, according to parents, and supporters of the cause.
“This is a collaborative effort,” stated Kari Zeier, one of the people organizing the protest. While her and Jenna McKinney are spearheading the protest organization efforts, they stressed how the event is about all the parents and players who are being effected by the plan, regardless of the size of school or age of the player. According to parents, and organizers, Yellowstone County’s Health officer John Felton is not hearing their concerns.
Though the primary organizers are Zeier and McKinney, they are joined by Brian Macy who runs the Montana Sports Fans Alliance group with around 5,300 members, and Katrina Welch who created the online petition that received over 25,000 signatures, among others.
“Our soul mission of organizing this is because the parents did not have a place at the table,” stated McKinney in regards to the meeting in which the school sports plan was established. “A large number of people were unaware and the parents are not being heard. They need a place to be heard. We as a group are extremely proud of Yellowstone County parents. We’ve done everything very well, and that didn’t work. The parents still weren’t heard, so 25,000 people signed a petition. They’re doing the right steps, but they aren’t being heard. The problem we have is that the parents were not listened to, but the bigger problem is that this decision was made without even partnering with the parents to discuss a solution. The parents weren’t even included.”
“This entire issue right now is not partisan. I want to make that extremely clear,” stated Zeier “And we are not just protesting. We have a plan as well. In our plan, we would have four tickets per each home-team player, and two tickets per player for visiting teams. We would have masks and temperature checks at each game and would encourage social distancing. We’re not here to riot and protest needlessly. We do have a plan.”
The protest will be held this Friday at 5:00 PM on the lawn of the Yellowstone County Courthouse. “It’s all permitted as well,” stated McKinney. “Like I said, we are trying to do everything correctly.” Anyone and everyone who has been effected by the new school sports plan is encouraged to attend and show support. There will be speakers from all facets of who has been affected by the plan that was implemented.
“This right now is for our kids, and we are focusing on our kids,” added Zeier. “This is why we are doing this. We are the voice of our children.”
Answers to questions and concerns can be found over on the “Let Us Watch: Yellowstone County” Facebook page. More information will also be found here at Yellowstone County News as the story develops.
