As a former police officer, I believe in laws, order and process. The balance between the branches of government, and most importantly, Liberty.
In the past several months we have seen that “process”, especially those espoused in the Constitution of the United States of America, including The Bill of Rights, get stepped on and crushed, but not by the people. This “process” has been hijacked by the very ones who are supposed to represent us.
Over a month ago I created a group called the Utah Business Revival which recently organized four Business Revivals in several Utah counties. One of our missions is to immediately help these “non essential” businesses get relief, because most of these businesses are floundering in the shutdown. We have sought to work with city Mayors directly and/or indirectly.
Our first revival/rally, located in Salt Lake City, was a protest against Mayors Mendenhall and Wilson, whose draconian “snitch on your neighbor” policies reminded some of the Stasi of Nazi Germany. We had over 2,500 people show up and purchase food from local establishments. Some chose to social distance, some didn’t; but we came in peace. And guess what? we had zero reported spikes in covid19. The owner of Crown Burger called me almost in tears letting us know how much we helped his hurting 41 year old establishment that day. This was an indirect way to work in SLC. A peaceful protest. Mayor Jenny Wilson was “angered” we showed up to help businesses like Crown Burger.
Next, we worked directly with Mayor Julie Fulmer of Vineyard, as she opened her city’s home at “The Yard” shopping center. We had over 65 small business booths show up, 5 food trucks, and over 5,000 show up to help revive. We had over 22 Utah Elected Officials and candidates come to speak, including Iron County Commissioner Paul Cozzens , State House Phil Lyman, former House Speaker Greg Hughes, sitting US Congressman Rob Bishop, and Utah’s top cop and Attorney General Sean Reyes. Sean even rapped for the group.
After that I called Kaysville Mayor Katie Witt. Except this time we had Country Music Legend Collin Raye on board to sing for us as we saved businesses. Mayor Witt went to all 5 of the City Council members and they were all on board for the event. They all originally said “yes”. Michelle Barber even said “I love Collin Raye, awesome.” Within 24 hours the same City Council turned on the Mayor, and sent out an internal document (future press release) how they were going to shut off the power to Barnes Park and turn on the sprinklers onto not only families, but the “Awesome” Collin Raye himself. “Love” can quickly turn “damp” once pressure and politics gear up. After our group was lambasted in the media from the Kaysville City Council, that we are all going to “kill people” with our actions, we read that the State of Utah and Health Department decided to open up Lagoon just a few miles down the road, the very next day. Crickets from Kaysville City Council on that decision.
I was scrambling. We needed to find a venue. I saw a Facebook post where Jason Manning opened up his Amphitheater Studio Ranch to allow for Grantsville High School to have a stage. Hats flying, people happy, I knew that was the next location to pursue. We made the deal. I immediately called Sheriff Wimmer from Tooele County, and he told us he wouldn’t plan on arresting anyone that day. Manning put a call into the Tooele County Health Department who suggested “We couldn’t give you a permit even if we wanted to. We can’t give out a permit under the Covid19 restrictions.” However, we learned that the likelihood was that the Mannings possibly don’t need a permit to begin with, because the Amphitheater was built for 10,000 people and exists on private property.
Once we made the announcement, Tooele County Commissioner Shawn Milne had a lot to say. And it wasn’t good. I started to get information that Milne was already upset at the Mannings because the Mannings had a better in-person graduation turnout, than the schools “Virtual” online graduation did not result in many people taking part. When I spoke with Milne myself, he said “It was a stick in the eye!” what Manning did. I already knew this was personal. I knew we weren’t going to get very far. This was about Milne, not about anything else.
A few days later we learned that Tooele County Attorney Scott Broadhead filed for an injunction suggesting we would create “irreparable harm” to Tooele Country. District Judge Dianna Gibson sided with Broadhead and signed an order to shut down the concert with Government force. During the hearing Broadhead and Milne both mocked the Mannings property saying it’s a “Glorified Tuffshed” speaking of their state-licensed bar. I’ve been in hundreds of court hearings, and I’ve never seen such unprofessionalism. Broadhead was physically angry during the hearing. Why get angry if truth is on your side? During the hearing we found out that Tooele County approved the BMX motocross event that was happening the exact same weekend where thousands gathered at the Desert Peak Complex, owned by Tooele County itself. To watch the County and Judge order an injunction stating “There is a global pandemic: Utah issued a state of emergency;… now, under these circumstances- creates an unnecessary health risk to the Tooele County citizens and ALL citizens of Utah…,” according to the Judge.
Isn’t it amazing to watch how the Covid19 is mutating? Somehow avoiding places like Lagoon, Abortion clinics, State Liquor Stores, Walmarts and Costcos? But on the other hand is so deadly and target-oriented that it attacks folks at non-essential small businesses and churches, thus requiring their closure? This virus seems to even have some Artificial Intelligence with how much tax revenue it can bring into certain counties and states, while forcing lockdown in others. This absolutely is a scary virus indeed.
Saturday we decided to have a business revival in Tooele anyways despite the County bullying the Mannings into submission with threats. We went to Benson Grist Mill where dozens of booths and food trucks still set up for people to support these local businesses. We were joined by several Utah elected officials who came to join us and speak, including Phil Lyman, Paul Cozzens, and Representative Kim Coleman. And guess who came on the scene, with no mask, to try and scare away these Utah elected officials (during the emergency pandemic) none other than Shawn Milne. Maybe Milne knows Covid19 had plans to bounce over Benson Mill as well? Our call to action was for 1,001 to show up, however over 2,000 came to revive these “Non essential” businesses and their families.
During all of this, SLC was burning to the ground by thugs and uneducated anarchists who don’t care about any type of laws or orders governments may attempt to enforce. This lead to the injury of at least 21 police officers, flipping over police cars, arson, looting etc., etc… What did Mayor Mendenhall do? Well, she called for “reports” if any one of her anarchists may have been hurt by police “excessive force.” The next day Governor Gary Herbert stood without a mask on the Capitol steps, not social distancing for his photo op. I guess the “green” zone is now go? We’ve defeated covid19 in one picture? Or did Covid19 also knows to jump over the ransacked State Capitol for the Governors photo op?
What has happened to America in such a short time? This is not who we are. This is not how we go down. I believe the only way out of this disaster is for We The People to peacefully push back and never again allow this to happen, under any virus, condition, or circumstance. The “cure” truly has become worse the disease. It seems the real virus we face are out-of-control politicians, health departments, and bureaucrats who only seem to care about money and control, all in the name of “health and safety.” It’s clear, We The People are the answer to this mess, not They The Government. Benjamin Franklin once said, ” Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” Righteous rebellion isn’t Un-American, right now it’s the most patriotic thing we can do. We can’t just say “God Bless America” without putting in faith, and faith is action. We must LET God Bless America with righteous action. We can’t “Stay home and stay save” for too much longer.
