Hello Walk protest logo raises free speech controversy

A man was arrested during a forum Wednesday night at Montana State University-Northern after he made a profane outburst and refused to leave during discussion of the university Senate painting over a protest logo on its Hello Walk.

Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich identified the man this morning as Henry Charles Valdez, 31, of Havre who was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct at about 8:30 p.m. He was transported to Hill County Detention Center and held on $185 bond, he said, adding that he did not know if Valdez had been released.

A video that Valdez posted on his Facebook page indicated he was.

Valdez said in the video that he was mistreated by police.

Valdez was at the meeting recording members of the Sweet Grass Society speaking when he loudly said a profane statement.

He was then asked by Senate President Randy Roeber to leave the meeting, but didn't.

Valdez moved to the back of the room but refused to leave. A Havre Police Officer who was not in uniform and others escorted him out. Valdez continued to say that he had the right to stay.

Scattered shouts of support and opposition then came from the crowd, as he was eventually escorted out of the ballroom.

Police logs say Valdez was later brought to the Hill County Detention Center for creating a disturbance.

Shouts of support and opposition continued with Senate officers urging those in attendance to calm down. Roeber then adjourned the meeting and went to the Student Senate office.

Many who were present remained in the ballroom, some remaining quiet but many shouting as they broke off into separate groups.

At the time, members of the Sweet Grass  Society had been speaking about a recent controversy involving a step on the campus's Hello Walk that they had claimed and painted the slogan #NoDAPL, a slogan widely used to suggest opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel, said during the meeting that he was concerned about the situation.

He said that when he was notified about the issue he was told that the #NODAPL logo was vandalism.  

Sweetgrass Society members said members painted the logo on the step during homecoming week, when students belonging to various organizations on the campus paint steps with the names and mascots of their respective organizations.

Director of Student Activities Tammy Boles, an advisor to the Student Senate, said Senate Vice President Colin Miller told her the logo was painted on the steps.

"When it came to us, Colin and me in particular, I was like, 'Oh my God, someone had vandalized our steps. I did not know it was done on Sept. 20 and I apologize to you guys for that," she said.

Roeber also said that the issue had been resolved at a meeting of the Interorganized Council, a group of representatives from different clubs.

Minutes from the meeting said Roeber and Miller said that it was agreed at the meeting that the step in question would be repainted but with the words "water is life" rather than #NODAPL and that a tentative committee be formed to look at future rules regarding the Hello Walk.

Miller said he had apologized to a representative to the Sweetgrass Society.

J.D Salazar, a representative of the Sweetgrass Society said that when she was there she never agreed to the proposal, only that she would remain "open-minded" to it and would have to consult with the Sweetgrass Society.

Miller and Roeber said minutes of the meeting report that the agreement had been voted on.

Kegel said that he did not have a problem with allowing the Sweetgrass Society to repaint the #NODAPL logo on the step, but he wanted to make it clear that it was Sweetgrass Society taking that position, not Northern.

Supporters of restoring the logo said the Chi Alpha had a Bible verse on one of their five steps on the walk, which could be considered controversial.

Kegel said he did not have a problem with allowing students to repaint the step but would have to consult with his legal team.