The legislative session in the Utah State Capitol has been subject to a number of protests from Utahns, especially in the first and second weeks of February.
Different protests took different stances on the legislative issues on hand, the largest of which was a general protest against President Donald Trump’s initiatives to end birthright citizenship, limit access to abortion and gender-affirming medical treatment and support of Elon Musk’s government participation as an unelected appointee. Some of the protestors stated their opposition to fascism as the reason they were present for the protest. While this protest was generally peaceful, there were arrests made after the Utah State Capitol plaque was tagged with chalk reading “Eat the Rich.” Salt Lake City Police estimate over 1,000 protestors joined the march.
Other protests occurred from specific demographics, such as some government employees decrying the Utah legislature’s bills that would limit employees of public services’ ability to unionize or rally behind a representative by banning collective bargaining. Various public education organizations, teachers’ groups and school advocates spearheaded the protest, which is now calling on Governor Spencer Cox to veto the bill, which passed with a contentious 16-13 split after a series of negotiations with teachers’ unions failed to come to a compromise. The Utah Education Association plans to continue the protest on February 13, where the organization will be protesting a bill that will transition local property tax dollars into a general fund.
