Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Several protestors were arrested Tuesday evening for investigation of offenses including riot, obstruction of justice and criminal trespassing after a clash over the Utah Inland Port Authority Board turned violent.
The protest took place Tuesday afternoon at 200 E. 400 South in the area around the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce building.
Eight people were arrested and three were cited and released. Five people were taken to jail, including:
- Elizabeth Allen Chauca, 30, arrested for investigation of riot, criminal trespass and assault on a peace officer or military service member in uniform.
- Kaden Cicily Fralick, 21, arrested for investigation of criminal trespassing, riot and obstruction of justice.
- Rosemarie Zoe Obrien, 25, arrested for investigation of riot, failure to disclose identity and criminal trespass.
- George Zinn, 65, arrested for investigation of disorderly conduct and failure to disperse.
- Hannah Kelman Zivolick, 24, arrested for investigation of criminal trespassing, failure to disclose identity and riot.
Zinn allegedly pushed some protestors after becoming angry with them because he thought they were blocking a Utah Transit Authority bus, according to arrest reports.
Police say the large crowd of protestors was given numerous warnings to leave private property after they entered the chamber building, according to arrest reports.
They refused, and at one point some sat down and linked their arms together with chains and bolts in a large tube wrapped in duct tape — a protest maneuver known as a “sleeping dragon,” according to the arrest reports.
At one point, police tried to push the crowd out of the doors; shortly after, Chauca allegedly attempted to claw or punch at an officer, according to arrest reports.
Police reported only minor injuries for both officers and protestors.
One person was arrested at the Inland Port Authority Board’s meeting last month, but conflicts over the inland port had not escalated into violence until yesterday.
Several journalists covering Tuesday's event, including reporters from the Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune and KUTV, also were caught in the fray as police and protestors clashed.
The protest was organized by several activist groups including the national Earth First! movement, as well as local Utah organizations ICE Free SLC, Civil Riot, Rose Park Brown Berets, Canyon Country Rising Tide, Utahns Against Police Brutality and Wasatch Rising Tide, according to a news release from Civil Riot.
Civil Riot acknowledged in the release that five people locked themselves inside the chamber offices, but also accused police of reacting to the protest with a “violent show of force.” They accused police of shoving, grabbing, jostling and punching people, the release states.
The groups organized the protest to “raise awareness of the devastating public health impacts” of the inland port, especially for the people and communities surrounding the area of northwest Salt Lake City proposed to house the port.
“Historically, communities of color and immigrants on the west side of Salt Lake have experienced much of the violence committed by the financial and political elite of Utah,” Civil Riot organizer Ella Mendoza said in the release. “The inland port represents a strategic assault on this community, as it is dependent on their displacement and suffering in order to function.”
Protests over Utah Inland Port escalate to violence as groups storm building
Protests against the Utah Inland Port Authority — combined with unrest over federal immigration policies, climate change and other social issues — boiled over into violence and clashes with police Tuesday.Several state and local authorities condemned Tuesday’s violence. Gov. Gary Herbert issued a "call for civility" with several other state and local leaders at a press conference at the Utah State Capitol Wednesday afternoon.
He acknowledged that people are passionate about the issues surrounding the port, but asked that people remain civil.
"Passion does not excuse you becoming violent and breaking the law," Herbert said.
Derek Miller, the chair of the Inland Port Authority Board who is also president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber, said the chamber offices were "under attack by a violent mob."
He said protesters broke security cameras inside the building and ran through some parts of the building, urinating in some offices.
Miller commended employees of the Salt Lake Chamber "for their response to take care of each other while the offices were being invaded by a violent mob."
Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, who has filed a lawsuit questioning the inland port’s constitutionality, held a separate press conference Wednesday with Salt Lake Police Chief Mike Brown to address the protest.
The pair was originally slated to speak at Herbert's address, but opted out.
Biskupski said the last-minute decision not to participate in Herbert’s conference was due to a “bait and switch.” She said the governor discussed “a lot of things” unrelated to Tuesday’s protest.
“We chose to have our own press conference because we think it’s important to talk about what occurred yesterday in Salt Lake City,” she said at that press conference.
She also read a statement saying she supports the rights of citizens to protest.
“I do not, however, condone violence of any kind, no matter the situation," she said. “The injuries sustained were a tragic result of this protest, but I want to thank the Salt Lake City police and all of our first responders for their handling of the situation and working to keep everyone involved as safe as possible.”
Brown said the city has had “decades of civil discourse and protection of those who want to exercise their First Amendment right.”
He cited several examples of protests, including March For Our Lives and protests at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints semi-annual general conferences, where Salt Lake police accommodated those who wanted their voices heard. However, he said violent protests such as Tuesday’s were unacceptable.
He said police will stop violent and aggressive behavior and hold those responsible accountable.
The Utah House Democratic Caucus also released a statement supporting protestors’ rights but denouncing violence.
“It is never acceptable for protesters to attack anyone, destroy property, or create mayhem, nor for law enforcement to use inappropriate force,” the statement said. “It is incumbent on police and protesters not to escalate tensions into what we saw yesterday. We applaud Utah's highly engaged citizenry who care about good public process and policy. We all want a safe place to exercise free speech.”
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert had stronger words for the protestors Tuesday evening, saying they “went way beyond the pale” and comparing their actions to “borderline terrorism.”
“This was more than people just standing up for a cause they believe in; this was having no tolerance for a difference of opinion,” Herbert said in a prepared statement. “This was bullying, intimidation, and violence, and will not be tolerated. I call upon all elected officials, all people of good will and character, and all running for the office of Salt Lake City Mayor to condemn today’s protests in the strongest terms.”
Contributing: Lauren Bennett, KSL.com
