Missoula Rises is an affiliated project of Montana Human Rights Network, based in Missoula, Montana. It was created as an opposition group to the Trump administration. ^{1 2}

In October 2018, then-President Donald Trump visited Missoula, Montana. Missoula Rises held a protest of his visit through a community event where the Missoula mayor alongside other local leaders gave speeches condemning Trump. ³ Members of Missoula Rises also promoted ballot initiatives at the protest and transported voters to voting sites. ⁴

Also in October 2018, Missoula Rises protested the University of Montana’s decision to allow former Trump administration official Steve Bannon to participate at non-school sponsored event on campus, where he would be promoting diversity in the technology industry. After the university defended its decision to decline to ban Bannon out of respect for freedom of speech, Missoula Rises condemned the justification for the decision. ⁵

Background

Missoula Rises is an affiliate of Montana Human Rights Network and is an activist group that was created as an opposition group to the Trump administration following the 2016 presidential election. ^{6 7} It is based in Missoula, Montana and organizes campaigns in the Bitterroot Valley, promoting so-called “vigilance” as part of its left-of-center activism. ⁸

As part of its opposition campaigns, Missoula Rises organizes voter registration and transports voters to polls. Additionally, it trains activists to organize their own voter registration drives and canvassing campaigns. ⁹

Anti-Trump Protest

In October 2018, Missoula Rises hosted a “Love Trumps Hate” protest in opposition to then-President Trump visiting Missoula, Montana. ¹⁰ The protest included community activities such as yoga, facepainting, and a potluck, and it also included booths promoting ballot initiatives. At those same booths, Missoula Rises members share information on how activists can individually promote ballot initiatives and canvass to register voters. ¹¹

During the event, Missoula Rises reported that it would be escorting members of the protest to vote at the polls as well as providing transportation to the polls via golf cart. ¹²

Missoula City Mayor John Engen (D), Missoula Rises Youth activists, Missoula Rises founder Erin M. Erickson, and Missoula Area Central Labor Council President Ben Dawson were among those who gave speeches at the protest. ¹³

Steve Bannon Censorship

In October 2018, Missoula Rises protested the University of Montana’s decision to allow former Trump administration official Steve Bannon to speak at a technology event which was scheduled to take place at the university in December 2018. ¹⁴

Despite that the event was not affiliated with or sponsored by the university, Missoula Rises asserted that he should be banned from speaking for allegedly being hateful as he is “far-right” politically and was a key figure in President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. After the university responded by saying it would not ban him as it is a proponent of free speech and expression, Missoula Rises responded by saying it is “disappointed” in the school and condemned it for allowing what it argues is a hateful person from speaking. ¹⁵

Leadership

Erin Erickson is the founder and director of Missoula Rises. Erickson is also a contributor for Public Policy Institute of the Rockies. She is a managing partner of the law firm Bohyer, Erickson, Beaudette & Tranel, P.C. ¹⁶

1. “Erin M. Erickson – Managing Partner.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 28, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-m-erickson.
2. “Revolutionary Love in a Time of Rage ❤️🔥.” Missoula Rises, April 5, 2018. https://missoularises.wordpress.com/2018/04/05/revolutionary-love-in-a-time-of-rage-%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f%f0%9f%94%a5/.
3. “Missoula Rises Reflects on Successful Community Event.” ABC FOX Montana, October 20, 2018. https://www.montanarightnow.com/news/missoula-rises-reflects-on-successful-community-event/article_e1de3615-619a-511c-bebc-e15f9285a947.html.
4. “Updated Information on Love Trumps Hate Community Event.” Missoula Rises, October 16, 2018. https://missoularises.wordpress.com/2018/10/16/updated-information-on-love-trumps-hate-community-event/.
5. “Missoula Rises Wants Um to Bar Bannon from Speaking at High-Tech Conference.” The Missoula Current News – Daily News in Missoula Montana, October 30, 2018. https://missoulacurrent.com/missoula-rises-bannon/?print=print.
6. “Revolutionary Love in a Time of Rage ❤️🔥.” Missoula Rises, April 5, 2018. https://missoularises.wordpress.com/2018/04/05/revolutionary-love-in-a-time-of-rage-%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f%f0%9f%94%a5/.
7. “Erin M. Erickson – Managing Partner.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 28, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-m-erickson.
8. “Missoula Rises.” Missoula Rises, July 12, 2019. https://missoularises.wordpress.com/.
9. “Updated Information on Love Trumps Hate Community Event.” Missoula Rises, October 16, 2018. https://missoularises.wordpress.com/2018/10/16/updated-information-on-love-trumps-hate-community-event/.
10. “Missoula Rises Reflects on Successful Community Event.” ABC FOX Montana, October 20, 2018. https://www.montanarightnow.com/news/missoula-rises-reflects-on-successful-community-event/article_e1de3615-619a-511c-bebc-e15f9285a947.html
11. “Updated Information on Love Trumps Hate Community Event.” Missoula Rises, October 16, 2018. https://missoularises.wordpress.com/2018/10/16/updated-information-on-love-trumps-hate-community-event/.
12. “Updated Information on Love Trumps Hate Community Event.” Missoula Rises, October 16, 2018. https://missoularises.wordpress.com/2018/10/16/updated-information-on-love-trumps-hate-community-event/.
13. “Updated Information on Love Trumps Hate Community Event.” Missoula Rises, October 16, 2018. https://missoularises.wordpress.com/2018/10/16/updated-information-on-love-trumps-hate-community-event/.
14. “Missoula Rises Wants Um to Bar Bannon from Speaking at High-Tech Conference.” The Missoula Current News – Daily News in Missoula Montana, October 30, 2018. https://missoulacurrent.com/missoula-rises-bannon/?print=print.
15. “Missoula Rises Wants Um to Bar Bannon from Speaking at High-Tech Conference.” The Missoula Current News – Daily News in Missoula Montana, October 30, 2018. https://missoulacurrent.com/missoula-rises-bannon/?print=print.
16. “Erin M. Erickson – Managing Partner.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 28, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-m-erickson.