20th anniversary of Utah monument stirs strong emotions
20th anniversary of Utah monument stirs strong emotions
Michelle L. Price and Brady Mccombs, Associated Press
Updated 5:00 pm, Sunday, September 18, 2016
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — As Utah waits to see if President Barack Obama will designate a new national monument in the state, this weekend's 20th anniversary of another national monument rekindled memories of an event that ignited simmering western frustrations about federal ownership of public land.
President Bill Clinton created the Grand Staircase Escalante-National Monument on Sept. 18, 1996, by signing a declaration at the south rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It was lauded by environmentalists, with actor and Utah resident Robert Redford appearing at the ceremony with Clinton.
But in heavily Republican Utah, he move was viewed as a sneaky, stab-in-the back example of federal overreach.
About 70 miles (112.65 kilometers) north of Clinton's ceremony in the Utah town of Kanab, just outside the new monument, flags flew at half-staff, residents wore black ribbons of mourning and high school students released 50 black balloons as a sign of protest. More black balloons were hung around town, along with signs that said "Shame on you Clinton."
More:
http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/20th-anniversary-of-Utah-monument-stirs-strong-9230506.php
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Salutations, Utah Republicans.
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