Anti-Trump Banner Crashers Reported to Police at UM Homecoming Parade
University president confirms individuals were not registered entrants, reported to police during event
By Roy McKenzie
Oct 11, 2025
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly characterized the individuals carrying an anti-Trump banner as official University of Montana Homecoming Parade participants who violated parade rules. University President Seth Bodnar has confirmed these were unauthorized individuals who were not registered parade entrants and were reported to police during the event. This correction significantly changes the story’s focus from parade rule enforcement to questions about security and access control for parade routes. We apologize for the initial mischaracterization.
MISSOULA, MT — Unauthorized individuals carrying a politically charged anti-Trump banner disrupted the University of Montana Homecoming Parade Saturday, prompting officials to report the incident to police during the family-friendly community event.
A photograph shared with Western Montana News shows two participants carrying a banner with the text “Pedophile President” and references to disputed claims about Trump’s alleged connection to Jeffrey Epstein. The banner references a disputed entry from what’s known as Epstein’s “birthday book,” compiled by convicted felon Ghislaine Maxwell, containing an alleged message from Trump that the former president has denied writing.
Parade Rules and Unauthorized Participation
While the individuals were not official parade participants, their banner content would have violated multiple established parade rules had they been registered entrants, according to regulations published by the University of Montana Alumni Association.
Rule #2 specifically prohibits entries that “discriminate against, is offensive to or disparages any person or group” and requires displays to focus on “positive UM spirit-building artistic theme and message.” The banner’s content directly contradicts this requirement with its accusatory language.
Rule #11 mandates that “all floats and vehicles must be decorated with the Homecoming theme,” which this year was “Party Like It’s 1995.” The political banner bore no connection to the nostalgic 1990s theme intended to celebrate university spirit.
Rule #12 requires parade entries to display their official lineup position number and organization name on a minimum 36″ x 24″ card prominently placed on the front of entries. No such identification was visible in the photograph.
Rule #1 grants the Parade Committee explicit authority to “bar from the Parade, AT ANY TIME, any entry not conforming to the rules and regulations,” though this authority applies to official parade participants rather than individuals who join the route without authorization.
Safety Concerns and Previous Incidents
The incident comes amid heightened attention to parade safety and community standards following harassment incidents during last year’s homecoming parade. In September, Western Montana News reported that families and children participating in the Missoula County Republican Central Committee’s float faced jeering and harassment from spectators.
University President Seth Bodnar, who was unaware of last year’s incidents until contacted by this news organization, expressed regret and committed to enhancing the university’s “Event Action Plan” for homecoming to ensure “people from all backgrounds, walks of life, and political perspectives are welcomed, supported, and included.”
Just days before this year’s parade, Parade Coordinator Hannah J. Moreau sent an email to participants emphasizing safety protocols due to “several last-minute cancellations and other logistical adjustments.” Moreau’s message stressed that “safety is our top priority” and reminded participants about proper conduct.
“While parades are public events and we cannot control every interaction, we ask that all participants and spectators contribute to an environment of respect and celebration,” Moreau wrote in the October 9 email.
Security and Access Control Questions
The incident raises questions about security measures and access control for parade routes rather than screening processes for official participants. The University of Montana Alumni Association requires all registered participants to acknowledge the parade rules as “required reading for all entries.”
However, the unauthorized participation highlights potential gaps in preventing individuals from joining parade routes without permission. While parade organizers have discretionary authority over official entrants, controlling access along public parade routes presents different challenges.
The rules emphasize creating a positive, inclusive atmosphere appropriate for families and the university community. Rule #2’s requirement for “positive UM spirit-building” content reflects the standards parade organizers seek to maintain, though enforcement mechanisms differ between official participants and unauthorized individuals who access parade routes.
University Response: Unofficial Participants Reported to Police
President Seth Bodnar confirmed Monday afternoon that the individuals carrying the banner “were not official parade participants/entrants” and were “reported to the police during the event.”
“Our parade team documented the incident and has been working closely with appropriate partners to ensure it is addressed to the best of our ability,” Bodnar wrote in an email response to Western Montana News.
The revelation that these were unofficial participants rather than registered parade entrants significantly changes the nature of the incident from a rule enforcement issue to what appears to be unauthorized individuals who joined the parade route without permission.
Western Montana News has contacted Parade Coordinator Hannah Moreau for additional details about how the unofficial participants were able to access the parade route and what measures exist to prevent unauthorized entries.
The incident has prompted formal complaint action from prominent community members. According to the individual who shared the photograph with Western Montana News, another person who witnessed the parade entry plans to contact the CEO of the Alumni Association early next week to schedule a meeting and file a formal complaint about the banner. The complainant is a lifetime alumna whose husband holds Distinguished Alumnus status at the university.
The incident represents a departure from the homecoming parade’s traditional role as a family-friendly community celebration designed to bring people together in support of university pride. The parade typically features floats from student organizations, local businesses, and community groups focused on school spirit and the annual homecoming theme.
The controversy deepens existing political divisions in a community that has experienced significant tensions over political viewpoints, particularly targeting supporters of Donald Trump. This latest incident follows a pattern of harassment and confrontational behavior that has prompted safety concerns among Republican participants and their families.
While parade organizers appropriately reported the unauthorized individuals to police, the incident highlights the challenges of maintaining community standards and family-appropriate content at public events where access control can be difficult. The disruption of what is intended as a unifying celebration of university pride raises questions about how to balance public access with maintaining the welcoming atmosphere that homecoming events are designed to foster.
Updated Sunday, October 13, 2025 at 4:45 p.m. to include President Bodnar’s response confirming the individuals were not official parade participants and were reported to police during the event.
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The only reason the University president has responded is becuase this new story has been seen by the White House & he doesnt want to have the UM’s 70% federal funding pulled.
What about the far left liberal “no kings” political entry to the parade? Was this an official entry or not? This happened slightly after these two imbeciles walked past. I saw both in the parade marching down the street. No one is talking about this 2nd instance of rule violations. Im sure someone has a photo of this as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiuDrW9922E
Go to the 1:24:45 mark.
Does this “no kings” violate the rules mentioned in your article above? Is this an official entry?
Thank you, Roy, for the clarification. This throws a whole different light on the issue which was not seen before.
Obviously, because the parade route can be known beforehand and because streets and sidewalks are open to the public, it is nearly impossible to prevent anyone like these two men from interjecting themselves into the path of the parade at any time and anywhere. Consider the possibility that they might have simply walked into the street at any point along the route, unfurled their sign, walked two blocks with it, and then disappeared into the crowd. How could something like that be prevented?
Shouldn’t this be seen as similar to “crashing a party”, unknown and uninvited, but just showing up and creating a scene? In that situation, the party sponsor and/or property owner ought to be able to order the miscreant(s) out and to use force if necessary to eject the trespasser(s)? In reality, these men were trespassing, not necessarily on the public street, but on the good will and spirit of the parade and its audience, which brings up the whole issue of who the victims of the “crime” are and how they might be compensated for their “pain and suffering”.
Is there a proper way to bring some form of legal retribution against them to ensure that they actually feel the “cost” of their action? I dare say there is. All that is necessary is to find it. A hefty, enforced payment toward next year’s parade expenses would certainly not be out of line, in my opinion.
And your handing out narrcan that’s disgusting of missoula what a disappointment to mt people the mayor should be ashamed for letting our awesome town turn into a shit hole
Missoula and Bozeman have become leftist blue cities. Very sad indeed.
They couldn’t possibly be home grown Montanans. They must be transplants from California or Oregon.
Time for some parade officials to step down or be removed. You can’t get respect by disrespecting others.
Why can’t a few conservative Montanan snatch the vile sign from these two vermin?
If you think they did wrong, charge them with tresspassing, let them see a judge, and have there day in court. Escalating from trespassing (what the sign holders did) to theft doesn’t seem like strong moral footing.
It is so sad that great Universities and the cities they are in…are slowly but surely becoming so woke. Missoula used to be a beautiful small city located in a wonderful area. Now it has started to deteriorate…homeless camps along the river. Until things change back, send your children to trade schools and do not support these Universities. The fact that the parade was marred by officials ignoring the anti Trump sign proves my point.
They aren’t slowly becoming woke. They have been for years now. On sidewalks on the UM campus you’ll see writing in chalk announcing anti-fascist rallies held by ANTIFA leadership. Missoula is quickly becoming the new Portland. I believe we’re only a couple years away from the type of ANTIFA riots that we’re seeing now in Portland and Seattle here in Missoula.
Who are those 2 guys? Are they affiliated with other Missoula protests, leftist groups, etc?
Missoula is full of ignorant leftist freaks that want to be in Portland. Sadly, it’s a nice city otherwise. These leftist freaks need to be ignored as Montana is deep red and very Christian.
This was an absolute disappointment and completely inappropriate. I hope proper action is taken to ensure this does not continue—or they will end up with lots of empty space along the parade route. I believe most community members, including Democrats, aren’t interested in seeing this garbage in our Homecoming Parade.
The guy on the left is a PEDO. Research the GAY MAFIA
Everywhere you go chuckleheads are injecting politics into everything. Can’t have nice things anymore 😔
When democrats aren’t murdering children, they’re grooming them.
the disease know as TDS has infected so many leftists, mostly low IQ individuals who are on government support. So sad.
This was no accident on the part of the monitors. It was a classic liberal, “Oops! Sorry about that”….after the fact.
Liberals have no filters. Evil is as evil does.
Everything they accuse others of is what they totally ARE!
Given the obvious nature of the rule violations, and the number of monitors participating in the parade from the university, it’s hard to believe that it was an oversight on their part. While I can’t judge intent of the organizers, the allowance of this grossly inappropriate banner speaks very poorly of the UM alumni association.
Anti Trump banner was a totally inappropriate offensive parade entry. What is wrong with the parade oversight committee? Obviously asleep at the wheel or simply allowing it to happen. Shame on them.
Naah, it was allowed; not an accident.