Sen. candidate Joe Miller headlines "Day Of Resistance" rally

02/24/2014

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Michael Penn / Juneau Empire

Thom Buzard, right, organizer of the Juneau .223 Day of Resistance, speaks at the Capitol Saturday before leading a walk to the Federal Building.

FAIRBANKS — Fairbanks residents held a “Day of Resistance” rally Sunday in support of individual rights and liberty that included speeches from several Fairbanksans and U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller.

The rally, which took place from 1-4 p.m. in Veterans Memorial Park downtown next to City Hall, was organized to support Second Amendment rights “in the spirit of protest.” Though the purpose of the event was to express concerns about infringements on Second Amendment rights, speeches focused on several topics.

Besides Miller, speakers included Lonny Meeks, of the Oath Keepers group, Barbara Haney on Common Core State Standards and school choice, Aaron Bennet on state tyranny, Frank Turney on jury nullification and jury rights, and Liz Breuker on the importance of freedom and liberty.

David Luntz, the events organizer, said he created the event to make sure legislators heard and understood his and others’ concerns.

“Myself and a few friends felt passionate about the need to support the Second Amendment and constitutional rights,” Luntz said. (We want to) make sure our representatives understand our opinions.”

A similar “Day of Resistance” was organized in cities and towns across the country last year on Feb. 23, but this year, the rally did not pick up nationally. Luntz still wanted to address the issues this year. So he began organizing his own rally in Fairbanks and worked in conjunction with another rally held Sunday in Wasilla.

Luntz said he invited all the state senators as well as U.S. senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski and the candidates running against Begich in the election later this year.

“Unfortunately, no one else found it important enough to come out,” Luntz said.

In a speech lasting about 15 minutes, Miller cited federal overreach as the No. 1 problem facing Alaskans and listed government programs and initiatives he felt impinged on citizens’ liberties.

“What we have right now with the central government and its expansive power, if we don’t get it under control the individual freedoms we have are going to be long lost,” Miller said. “That includes First Amendment freedoms ... that includes Fourth Amendment freedoms.”

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