Close to 100 protesters have gathered in the Capitol hallway outside the Lincoln Auditorium, where two anti-Islam speakers are scheduled to address refugee resettlement issues in a 5:30 presentation today. The protesters are holding signs with messages including, “Refugees Welcome,” “Love Your Neighbor As Yourself,” “Freedom of religion means all religions,” and “Not in our town, not in our state: Idaho is too great for hate.”

Inside the auditorium, the speakers are setting up for their presentation and the audience is filtering in; so far it numbers about 60, and as yet just one lawmakers has arrived, Rep. Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton. All have been invited to the presentation, which isn’t scheduled to start for another quarter-hour.

The protesters said they plan to move to the Capitol steps at 5:30 for a candlelight vigil.

Among them was Beth Shannon of Kuna, who said, “I don’t think that there’s any reason that we can’t allow refugees in Idaho. Our state is too great for hate.” Madelyn Lee Taylor, who sat on her assistive scooter festooned with a “Refugees Welcome” sign, said she decided to participate in the protest because “It’s the right thing to do. These people are peddling hate and misinformation, a lot of misinformation."