Updated. At its peak, the crowd at Kalispell’s March Against Monsanto event numbered 500, reports Mike Jopek, who spoke at the rally and on his website posted a thoughtful essay on the rally and genetically modified food. That remarkable turnout underscores both the skill of its organizers and the popularity and importance of the issue. Update. Other speakers included Judy Owsowitz of Terrapin Farm, and Jeanette Cheney of Kalispell’s Wellness Center (warning: the Wellness Center dabbles in naturopathy, and is not endorsed by Flathead Memo).
I arrived later, after many had packed up their children and picnic baskets and gone home, but in time to photograph a spirited honk-n-wave that featured some outstanding signs. Some of my images of the H&W and the rally are below.
So is an image of a fellow wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, which annoyed me. Fawkes, as I’ve noted before, was a terrorist, not a role model for peaceful protest. And V for Vendetta did not erase his deeds, absolve him of his crimes, or improve his reputation (I mention this because one whippersnapper, clearly ignorant of the Gunpowder Plot, but familiar with the Vendetta movie, deigned to lecture me on the moral goodness of wearing a Guy Fawkes mask).
Mike and the organizers of the rally are the experts on farm policy and the genetic modification of food, so follow the links and join me in becoming better informed on the subject.
If you are interested in using any of the images below, please get in touch with James Conner.
