Utah’s outdoors are in the national spotlight again. Tim DeChristopher is on trial in Salt Lake City, and his case has created a surge of support from the environmental and outdoor community. If you’ll remember, DeChristopher sabotaged a federal auction for gas drilling parcels near Utah’s Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. He successfully bid on a dozen parcels that he never intended to pay for, in order to disrupt the proccess in protest of climate change.
Beyond climate change as the issue, the auction also involved parcels that if developed into drilling sites, would have ruined the landscape around some of Utah’s most beautiful country. These site threatened world-famous views; icons like Delicate Arch could have included a towering, metal drilling rig in the distance.
DeChristohper’s actions have turned him an environmental hero, with comparisons being made to Edward Abbey’s “monkeywrenchers.” Instead of explosives and chainsaws, DeChristopher’s weapon was an auction paddle. If convicted in court, he faces 10 years in prison.
On Monday, February 28th, the trial began, and hundreds of environmental activists and DeChristopher supporters converged on downtown Salt Lake City to rally and show their support. They first met at Pioneer Park and then marched to Exchange Place, across from the Federal Courthouse. Within sight of the court, the protesters chanted, sang songs, waved flags, and carried their own, oversized auction paddles with the number 70, the same number DeChristopher used for his bogus parcel bids. Other signs stated, “we are all bidder 70.”
The trial will proceed for around a week, during which time the protesters have promised to be outside the federal court building in support of DeChristopher.
For more, check out the news coverage from KUTV 2 News, who had crews outside the court all day. Below is the story by 2 News reporter, Rod Decker.