SALT LAKE CITY – House and Senate Republicans have passed resolutions against the teaching of critical racial theory in Utah schools and supported the idea of making the state a Second Amendment Sanctuary.
WATCH: Utah Parents, Activists Disagree on Critical Racial Theory curriculum
The votes ended on a dramatic day on Capitol Hill, Utah, when some lawmakers walked off the ground in protest and Conservative activists demonstrated at a press conference by black community leaders.
While the House was voting on its resolution on critical racial theory, every single Democrat in the Chamber went out and left the Republicans alone. Brian King, chairman of the minority House of Representatives, complained that the Democrats were not consulted on any of the resolutions, and in particular they opposed the resolution on critical racial theory.
“What this is about is an attempt, or a first step, to make sure my story, and the story of many people of color, is not taught in the school system,” said Sandra Hollins, Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake City, the only black legislature.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, House spokesman Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, said the resolution was merely asking the Utah school system to evaluate its curriculum.
“We urge the state school board to look at the curriculum and determine the right parameters for this discussion,” he said.
Critical racial theory is the idea that systemic racism is built into the fabric of American society. It is not currently taught in Utah schools. Legislators have been flooded with emails and voicemails from constituents who opposed it. Governor Spencer Cox declined to put it and the Second Amendment Sanctuary bill on the agenda for Wednesday’s special session, which was primarily about COVID-19 federal funds.
However, the Republican leaders on Capitol Hill considered the matter urgent and took the rare step of calling an extraordinary session to pass resolutions. Because of the way they did it, the House and Senate had to pass their own resolutions.
Outside on the Capitol steps, members of the Utah Educational Equity Coalition stood calling for the resolutions to be put on hold.
“There seems to be so much misinformation about what CRT is and what isn’t,” said Michelle Love-Day, a member of the group.
While the Love Day spoke, protesters against critical racial theory stood behind them and held up signs condemning them. The coalition members then stepped between the Love Day and the protesters to act as a buffer. Protesters raised their anti-CRT signs over their heads.
“CRT is a very divisive and destructive theory,” said Monica Wilbur, who had a sign against CRT. “It turns people into oppressed or oppressed.”
Opponents of the theory argue that it makes one race above another. Senator Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, who sponsored the Senate version of the resolution, said he wanted lawmakers to investigate the issue. But he didn’t support CRT in the curriculum. He acknowledged that there are different definitions of what it is.
Resolutions are merely declarations of the legislature and have no legal force, but both topics are expected to come back in the 2022 session.
Betty Sawyer, the director of Ogden’s NAACP branch, said they had to be invited to the table to be heard.
“Why wouldn’t you involve a wide variety of people to talk about races?” she said to FOX 13. “I’m confused about having a conversation without that.”
Legislature also accepted $ 1.65 billion in federal COVID-19 aid, banned face mask mandates in Utah schools in the fall, extended the state of emergency for drought, and passed a resolution recognizing Utah’s Asian-American and Pacific islander communities anti-asian was convicted of hate crimes.
Senator Jani Iwamoto, D-Salt Lake City, said she hoped the resolution would serve as a “call to action and meaningful and transformative change.”
Senate President J. Stuart Adams insisted that the same day lawmakers passed resolutions banning any discussion of critical racial theories, he insisted that they be non-exclusive.
“You can’t raise and you certainly can’t humiliate another person because of their race,” he told reporters. “You’re so consistent. It’s the same.”
Regarding the Second Amendment Sanctuary, lawmakers state their desire to protect Utahns gun rights in the face of the Biden government. The resolution’s sponsor, Senate Majority Leader Evan Vickers, R-Cedar City, admitted they haven’t seen any specific federal guidelines to object to.
“Granted, there aren’t, but unfortunately there has been a saber rattle in Washington DC,” he said.
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