Not yet there, Mr. Owens
Racism still runs rampant in Utah.
Last Saturday, during the Utah Republican Party’s Organizing Convention, freshman U.S. Representative Burgess Owens announced to the attending delegates that “Utah is the least racist state in the least racist country in the world.”
If only this was true.
Unfortunately, Mr. Owens, racism still runs rampant in the words and actions of certain Utahns.
For example, there are people in our state who openly oppose immigration, having a particular phobia of those fleeing life-threatening situations across our country’s southern border.
These Utahns spit and spread fear, saying, “They’re coming to your neighborhoods, not knowing the language, not knowing the culture. … So beware. Don’t think this is a distance from you now. It’s coming your way.”
Additionally, there are other Beehive residents that choose to insistently ignore study after study after statistical study, claiming, “we don’t have a systemic racism problem.” and that “there is no systemic racism in America.” Some even go as far to say, “the idea that we’re a systemic racist country is totally false.”
So, Mr. Owens, until these types of beliefs are no longer held or taught by any in our great state, Utah cannot be considered the least racist state in the union.
May we get there one day.
