Citizen Revolt: Week of April 21
Gun Violence and Women, Truth and Lies, Earth Day Cleanup, Wear Denim
By Katharine Biele @kathybiele
Gun Violence and Women
America loves its guns. But its women? Not so much. Let's first acknowledge that nowhere in the Constitution does it mention women and despite decades of attempts, there has been no amendment giving them equal rights. But women are a stand-out target in domestic violence. Uniform Crime Reporting shows that every month, an average of 57 women are killed with a firearm by an intimate partner. While every day more than 100 people are killed with a firearm, it's women who get targeted because of their sex. Add to that mix nonbinary people, and you'll see an increasing and troubling trend in gun violence. The Gender-Based Gun Violence: Virtual Town Hall will address the problem. "What can we do to stop the killing of women and nonbinary people? How could the ERA support legislation to protect vulnerable or targeted communities from gun violence?" Virtual, Thursday, April 21, 2 p.m., free. https://bit.ly/3OqAv8H
Truth and Lies
It has been 77 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, and that means that memories fade as people die. The QAnon conspiracy movement is just one example of how startlingly false narratives can gain a foothold. The Holocaust and the atrocities it perpetrated have long inspired conspiracy theories and racist fiction with the goal of obliterating this tragic history. Fewer and fewer Holocaust survivors are alive to tell their stories, but Protecting the Truth aims to emphasize the importance of holding each other accountable for truthfully honoring the legacyof those who weremurdered and those whosurvived the Holocaust. Banning books is just one example of how this is happening today. The University of Utah is planning a week of remembrances in honor of this dark legacy. Virtual and in-person events, Monday-Thursday, April 25-28. Free/register at https://bit.ly/3jliOcl
Earth Day Cleanup
The Jordan River may have once been a fast-flowing, fresh-water source, but times and trash have changed that. Now, the murky river barely moves. You can help to clean the river and trail at Earth Day Jordan River Trail & Canoe Cleanup, a collaborative event with Salt Lake City Councilman Alejandro Puy, Neptune Divers, HEAL Utah, Indigo Industries, Texas Instruments and Este Pizza Sugar House. Sign up for morning or afternoon. "Canoe cleanup volunteers should be ready to get wet and muddy and everyone should be ready to have fun and make a big difference for our community trail and the natural environment." Check the website for meeting places, Friday, April 22, 9 a.m.-noon/ 1-4 p.m. Free/register at https://bit.ly/3JNtk6G
Wear Denim
SAAM Denim Day honors victims of sexual assault. It started in Italy after a judge overturned a rape conviction because the victim's jeans were too tight. Women in Parliament began wearing denim jeans in solidarity. Utah State Capitol south steps, 350 N. State, Wednesday, April 27, 10 a.m., free. https://www.ucasa.org/saam
About The Author
Katharine Biele
A City Weekly contributor since 1992, Katharine Biele is the informed voice behind our Hits & Misses column. When not writing, you can catch her working to empower voters and defend democracy alongside the League of Women Voters.
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