Republican Gov. Gary Herbert declared Utah in a state of emergency on Thursday, July 9, citing “civil unrest” as the main reason. Herbert said that recent demonstrations in the state have become increasingly violent, and many rioters have injured innocent people and have destroyed both public and private property.
The recent period of massive civil unrest in Utah began when demonstrators flooded Salt Lake City after a court ruled that the police-involved shooting of Bernardo Palacios-Carbajal back on May 23 was justified. He was shot after somebody called 911 to report a person making “threats with a weapon.” According to reports, the police fired at least 34 shots, hitting the suspect 13 times.
The demonstrators were further angered when the Democratic mayor of Salt Lake City, Erin Mendenhall, supported the court's decision to exonerate the officers involved in the incident. In a statement, Mendenhall praised Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, another Democrat, who provided the court with significant evidence that the officers of the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) were justified in their actions.
“I know that for some, today's decision does not feel like justice. It has become increasingly apparent in our city and across the nation that there is a difference between what so many feel is morally correct, and what is considered appropriate and justified under the law,” added Mendenhall in her statement.
Mendenhall has not conducted any action to supplement Gov. Herbert's state of emergency declaration; however, she did say in an interview with Deseret News that she supported the executive order.
The one incident that prompted Herbert to declare a state of emergency was when at least 300 vandals and rioters showed up outside the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office in the city's downtown neighborhood. There, rioters broke windows and participated in other acts of vandalism. In response, the SLCPD declared the demonstration an unlawful gathering. Two rioters were arrested, and one police officer was hospitalized due to a leg injury.
Under a state of emergency, the governor's office can use state government resources that are “necessary to cope with a state of emergency.” The executive order also closes down both the Utah State Capitol building and the District Attorney's Office building to anyone who does not work there.
Herbert's state of emergency declaration will stay in effect until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 13.
Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how residents of blue states should consider bugging out as soon as possible and moving over to red or conservative states, like Utah, where their Constitutional rights to life, liberty and property, as well as their rights to free speech and the right to bear arms, will be upheld and protected.
Mayor Mendenhall, DA Gill and SLCPD taking precautions after receiving death threats
In response to the court ruling, several city officials, including Mendenhall and Gill, are taking defensive precautions after they received a flurry of credible threats to their safety.
SLCPD spokeswoman Christina Judd said that some of these precautions include enlisting the aid of bodyguards to provide round-the-clock protection. (Related: It's just open terrorism now as BLM supporter seen on video firing GUN into SUV trying to escape the mob in Provo, Utah.)
“My family is taking necessary precautions to be safe and as the mayor, I'm focused on the safety of our entire city as this plays out,” said Mendenhall.
Gill, for his part, vowed to “encourage robust civic dialogue” in response to the extensive damage done to his office building, which is estimated to cost upward of $200,000. The rioters destroyed five large windows and splattered large portions of the building's exteriors with red paint.
Gill called the act of vandalism an “unlawful and irresponsible” choice and that it disregarded the need for dialogue and community collaboration.
SLCPD Chief of Police Mike Brown called the damage done to the building “significant,” and, because of the attack, his department will take a stronger stance against rioters to make sure no other property is damaged. Any kind of vandalism or any attempt by demonstrators to block roads will no longer be tolerated.
Find the latest news regarding civil unrest across the nation at Rioting.news.
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