SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 2, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Thousands of Utahns gathered outside Utah’s State Capitol building Saturday afternoon to protest what they are calling “Trump’s Monumental Mistake.”
The rhythmic pounding of native drums set the tone for the rally against the reduction of land set aside for Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments.
The rally started with sacred tribal prayers, and went on to a program of respectful speakers taking about the importance of the land that hangs in the balance.
The rally was organized on Facebook weeks before an article published Thursday by The Washington Post. Citing leaked documents and information shared by insiders on condition of anonymity, the article indicated that Trump’s plan at that time was to cut the protected acreage of Bears Ears by 85 percent and Grand Staircase-Escalante by half.
“This action is illegal, unwarranted, and dismisses the more than 2.8 million people that petitioned President Trump to keep our national monuments fully intact,” says a statement on the event’s Facebook page. “It is also an affront to Native American Tribes.”
With interest in protecting the wilderness lands sparked to bonfire level, and the news that Trump will be in Salt Lake City Monday to make his final announcement, the stage was set for Saturday’s rally.
