SB 97 is on the Governor’s desk!

WE NEED YOU TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO VETO THIS BILL!

SB97 Passed through both the Senate and the House during this session and landed on Governor Bullock’s desk on March 27th. We need to make sure our voice is heard by encouraging the Governor to veto this bill.

This is URGENT. We only have a couple days to accomplish this goal! Please call and/or email Governor Bullock and encourage him to veto SB 97.  

By Phone
406-444-3111
Toll Free: 855-318-1330

By Email (please fill out the form)
https://governor.mt.gov/Home/Contact/shareopinion

Already, our calls and effort have not gone unnoticed! The report from the Legislative Committees shows a 3:4 call ratio in opposition to the bill and dozens of people packed the gallery in a strong show of solidarity with our Muslim friends and neighbors! But there are only a couple days left for Bullock to decide to veto this bill, so we are not quite done yet!

More info on the bill in this older post (with an older “ask” so make sure you are calling the numbers above for the Governor, not the Legislative committee as in this link).

Thank you all for your support!

We need you!

The date for the vote on SB 97 is set for Monday March 20th at 12:30p in the Helena State Capitol Building.  We are asking people to show up, wearing gray, to pack the House gallery for the vote and show our support for our Muslim friends and neighbors–those who have enriched our community for years, and those who have recently found a home here!

FB Event for more info and to SHARE is:
 here: https://www.facebook.com/events/165224300659479/

This is spring break and many folks will be out of town so if you can’t make it, please consider calling and expressing your opposition to SB 97!

Call the legislative switchboard at (406) 444-4800 and ask to leave a message for the House Judiciary Committee. Tell them to vote no on SB 97!

Please remember to wear gray if you can make it!

Thank you for your support!

Read more details about SB 97.

Soft Landing Missoula did not start for political reasons, nor do political motivations color what we do every day. But, there are times that we recognize that we have a voice and we want to use it to promote equality and kindness for all, regardless of country of origin, or religious beliefs.

Right now, the Montana House is considering SB 97, which seeks to prohibit the application of any foreign law in the Montana Judicial system. This bill is a solution in search of a problem, failing to recognize that our Constitution is the highest law of the land and that the inclusion of any religious law in the court system is already strictly prohibited based on the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. Instead, it’s designed as an opportunity to scapegoat and fearmonger against Muslims, including Muslim refugees. It’s a false platform from which to argue that Muslims are trying to subvert our laws and society, and to draw false lines between us.

Call the legislative switchboard at (406) 444-4800 and ask to leave a message for the House Judiciary Committee. Tell them to vote no on SB 97!

SB 97 is a copycat bill of legislation in other states known as ‘anti-Sharia’ legislation. It is promoted on the misconception that our judicial system is capable of being infiltrated to become a religious state and that is simply not true. Like the other bills, promoted by outside groups, it encourages fearmongering about refugees arriving in Montana who are seeking the freedoms and protections of the Constitution enjoyed by all Montanans. Refugees are individuals who have been welcomed to the United States after fleeing violence and persecution. SB 97 is based on the assumption that Montanans from certain countries or of certain faiths do not want to abide by our state and federal standards, and that is not true. Refugees work hard everyday to integrate into and contribute to our communities.

Here’s what you can say:
“I’m (name) from (city, county, ethnic community, or congregation) and I’m calling to urge the House Judiciary Committee to vote against SB 97. This bill is a waste of taxpayer resources, unnecessarily mandates an already established concept of the judiciary system and only seeks to highlight the differences rather than the commonalities of all Montanans. I expect my representatives to represent our state’s American values and oppose legislation that unnecessarily targets people of particular religious faiths. Please oppose SB 97.”

You can also leave a message for the House Judiciary Committee online at http://leg.mt.gov/css/Sessions/65th/legwebmessage.asp.

On Monday, January 23, we had a great day at the Capitol with the Montana Association of Christians (MAC). We’re honored by their invitation to join them in Helena and their dedication to social justice issues including the humane treatment of Immigrants and Refugees. Reflecting back, I am reminded that MAC was one of the very first organizations to step up in support of Soft Landing Missoula’s (SLM) mission, to bring refugee resettlement to Missoula, with a statewide letter that was drafted in late 2015. Thank you MAC for all of your past and continued support.

As a little recap, we boarded buses in the first light of the morning with very generous local donations of coffee (City Brew) and treats (Orange Street Food Farm, Krispy Kreme, and Bagels on Broadway) and headed on our way.  The bus was a buzz with talk for the day and soon we got to hear from MAC a rundown on all 4 of their focus areas: abolition of the death penalty, support of prison re-entry programs, increased child mental health services, and the humane treatment of refugees and immigrants.  SLM added a few words on the refugee piece and before we knew it, we were gathered in Helena! 

This was my first time in the Capitol Building and first experience in seeing first hand how Montana’s laws are made.  I have to say, it was pretty neat. The building itself is so beautiful and powerful- the art and paintings stunning and of course I loved the statue of Jeanette Rankin! 

First thing we did was have a chance to meet many of our legislators from around the state at the luncheon in the Rotunda put on b MAC.  There were tables for different cities/regions of Montana and Legislators were invited to sit down with their constituents and chat about these issues. There was of course plenty of co-mingling as well and I feel fortunate to have also gotten the chance to chat with legislators from Flathead and Ravalli counties as well.

We are so so thankful the Legislators took time out of their packed days to join us and listen to our concerns! Thank you Montana Legislators for all of your hard work!

After the luncheon we had a chance to go sit in the gallery while in session. We visited the House first where MAC received a very warm welcome and SLM also got introduced by Missoula Representative Andrea Olsen. 

We followed this up with a visit to the Senate gallery and I watched hearings and voting for the first time. This was really a great introduction to what it might look like if we get put in the position of having to testify  and show up for any of the anti-resettlement bills in draft. We then rallied back home on the bus with plenty of fabulous conversation from the day’s events!

As a final recap, I will just say that there are no anti-resettlement bills out of draft.  There are a few in the hopper, but nothing has hit the floor yet. We will be sure to keep everyone up to date on this as well as we can.  If and when this happens, will be calling on each and everyone of you to join us in Helena or make calls and write letters to show your support of the refugee program that Missoula has built. 

Thanks again MAC for such a wonderful experience!

There are multiple anti-refugee/anti-immigrant bills in play for the 2017 Montana State Legislature. (Please read the recent Missoulian article for more information.) We must have a presence at the Capitol to have our voices heard.  

We will be participating in MAC Day at the Legislature on Monday, January 23, in Helena.

If you would like to join us, we ask that you request a meeting with your state legislators during the luncheon at 11:15 in the Rotunda on January 23, 2017. (You can Use MAC’s Advocacy Toolbox to find your legislators.)

MAC’s website has the complete itinerary for the day. You can also download our flyer (.docx).

UPDATE ON THE BUS: The bus is filling up nicely, and 44 folks from Missoula have signed up, so there’s room for a few more friends, but please let FUMC and Jana Staton (FUMCMissoula@gmail.com & jstaton@montana.com)  know by Friday, Jan. 20.  Due to time constraints, please directly notify them and not Soft Landing Missoula. Cost is $15 a seat or $20 for a couple.

MORE DETAILS

Montana Association of Christians (MAC) is a well respected organization who participates in the legislature and believes in educating and advocating for Justice and Compassion for all. Every session they choose a few key issues, and this year, one of those issues is to champion the cause of Refugees and Immigrants in Montana.  

On January 23, we will board the MAC bus in the morning (a bus with coffee and donuts and training!) and spend the day visiting our representatives in the Capitol. We want to help them fill the bus!  There will only be about 50 seats.

We are so grateful for MAC’s insightful and kind guidance and their willingness to stand up for refugees in this tricky political climate.

There will be other opportunities to join in our efforts this session and as we strategize and plan, we will be sure to let you know other ways that you can help!