Montana police arrest protesters supporting ‘silenced’ transgender lawmaker

Protests erupted in Montana’s statehouse on Monday after a Democratic lawmaker was denied the opportunity to speak for the third day in a row. The police arrested seven protesters who disrupted the proceedings, charging them with criminal trespassing. Nearly 100 protesters chanted “Let her speak” from the statehouse gallery in support of Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, who is transgender and has not been recognized to speak on the House floor since last week.

Zephyr’s comments about lawmakers who supported a bill banning transgender surgeries for minors caused an uproar, and the Montana Freedom Caucus demanded Zephyr be censured. The bill passed in the chamber and looks likely to be signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT).

“For the third consecutive day, I have been denied the opportunity to represent my constituents in the Montana legislature and speak on their behalf,” Zephyr said in a statement on Monday. “When my constituents and community members witnessed my microphone being disabled, they courageously came forward to defend their democratic right to be heard — and some were arrested in the process. I stood by them in solidarity and will continue to do so.”

Republicans in the Montana House denounced the protesters, but the protests highlight the ongoing debate over transgender rights in the state. The Montana House of Representatives will be back in session on Tuesday.