Carly Ferro carly.ferro@sierraclub.org 801 467 9294 x 100
Salt Lake City, UT -- Today, around 5 thousand Utahns gathered at the Utah State Capitol to demonstrate their unrelenting commitment to stand with Bears Ears and save Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. Advocates, state officials, and business leaders stood in solidarity with Native American Tribes, showing an outpouring of public support for these culturally, spiritually, and ecologically significant lands. The rally brought together Native American tribes, state representatives, youth leaders, business owners, and performers in a display of devotion for the public lands with cultural, ecological, recreational, spiritual, and historical values.
This event occurred in anticipation of President Trump’s visit on Monday, where he aims to shrink both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments.
Sierra Club Utah Chapter Director, Ashley Soltysiak, released the following statement:
“Utah is home of some of the nation’s most iconic, diverse, and breathtaking public lands, a fact that never escapes those of us who are lucky enough to live here. This assault on our national monuments by the Trump administration is an affront to the tribal nations and all Utahns. This threat to democracy will not stand.
Flatly, Trump does not have the legal authority to gut our national monuments nor does he have the support of the people of Utah to do so. Thousands of Utahns raised their voices today, in recognition of the cultural, archaeological, and environmental significance of these areas. Today’s rally showed the strength of support for Tribal sovereignty and Utah’s public lands.
At a time of unprecedented attack on our wild lands, the Sierra Club is committed to continuing to support our allies in protecting our national monument boundaries and Tribal rights.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.