Valley residents listen to speeches and live music during Constitutional Rights Rally

WASILLA — Alaskans for Constitutional Rights, a budding grassroots movement created as a direct result of COVID-19 mandates, held a Constitutional Rights Rally at Denali Harley Davidson Thursday, Sept. 17.

A large number of Valley residents listened to local speakers along with local and visiting musicians with a backyard barbecue style cookout going on in the background.

“It was an amazing success, more than I could ever imagine,” AFCR representative Lacey Mattzela said.

Nashville singer Kenny Lee made a special appearance at the rally and performed several songs.

“That was pretty awesome,” Mattzela said.

Numerous locals got onstage and shared passionate speeches surrounding the theme of constitutional rights being violated, with numerous calls to action that shared a common thread. Most speakers emphasized the importance of individual citizens getting involved and standing up for their rights.

“We’ve had some great community support tonight,” Mattzela said. “Alaskans are just so generous... the kindness in their hearts, it never ceases to amaze me.”

Mattzela said that she and several community members banded together to establish the AFCR as a direct answer to the statewide health mandates resulting from COVID-19.

“When we were told to hunker down... when we couldn’t go to church... I mean right away our first amendment rights were taken away,” Mattzela said. “That was huge to a lot of people.”

Mattzela said these mandates were arbitrarily passed and violated Alaskans’ constitutional rights “without even a thought.”

“And it just keeps going and going and going,” Mattzela said.

AFCR long term goals include constitutional rights education, raising public awareness, reclaiming lost liberties, and making preventative actions to prevent future right violations during a public crisis.

“We don’t want this to set precedence for other disasters,” Mattzela said.

The AFCR is working with another Alaskan group with the same mission called the Constitutional Freedom Fighters, according to Mattzela. She said that their volunteers are regrouping after this rally to plan upcoming events and actions to take.

“You’ll see more of us,” Mattzela said.

Point Blank Firearms And Self Defense Training owner Donna Anthony was one of several public speakers who took to the stage Thursday evening. Anthony is a retired Palmer Police officer with over 20 years of law enforcement experience. She emphasized the importance of not letting outside groups affect their state’s gun laws.

“We won’t let this happen in Alaska. Look at Anchorage. They’re locking the doors so we can’t even speak,” Anthony said.”Let’s keep Alaska free under the second amendment, and let these groups know they are not welcome in our state. Amen? We will not be silent any more. I want to hear that chant, ‘USA, USA.”

The crowd cheered and started chanting, “USA! USA!”

For more information about AFCR, visit their Facebook page.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com