The evangelist who was a part of the negotiations that ended the 41-day armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in February returned to Oregon Tuesday. Franklin Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, spoke to a crowd of thousands at a rally in front of the state capitol.
Graham didn't mention the refuge occupation. He led the crowd in prayer and urged them to vote in the November election, but didn’t mention either major presidential candidate by name.
"You have to ask yourself which of the candidates is at least going to listen to us Christians?Which of the candidates are going to at least invite us to the table to get our opinion? That's going to be important,” Graham said. “You might have to hold your nose when you go to the polls."
The Salem rally is part of a series of rallies Graham is holding at state capitols across the country. The next stop will be Wednesday in Olympia. Graham will pay a visit to Boise on August 10.