The Center for Western Priorities staff is hitting to road to defend the West’s national monuments
America’s national monuments—from the stunning red cliffs of Colorado National Monument to the Statue of Liberty—have become part of the fabric of our country’s identity. But on April 26, President Donald Trump issued an executive order singling out dozens of national monuments for possible reduction or outright elimination.
The team at the Center for Western Priorities, a Denver-based nonpartisan conservation and advocacy organization, is hitting the road to defend our national monuments. Along the way we’ll be visiting Whitefish, MT, Grand Junction, CO, Albuquerque, NM, Flagstaff, AZ, Palm Springs, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Salt Lake City, UT.
““Although Secretary Zinke likes to talk about following in the footsteps of Teddy Roosevelt, his actions so far make it clear his real role model is James Watt, the Interior Secretary who promised only to ‘drill more, mine more, and cut more’ across America’s public lands. We are here in Whitefish to call on him to protect the Upper Missouri River Breaks, along with all monuments in the West, and recognize the economic value these monuments have to all Americans.””
Westerners of all stripes stand behind the region’s national monuments. A 2017 poll conducted by Colorado College found that 80% of Western voters support keeping protections for existing monuments. This resounding endorsement is no surprise, public lands and national monuments make up the backbone of the West’s thriving outdoor economy. A threat to national monuments is a threat to Western communities that rely on these economic benefits.
Already, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has recommended eliminating vast portions of Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument—a move that would be both unprecedented and illegal. These are monuments to America, to our land, to our courage and sacrifice, and to our history. An attack on even one national monument is an attack on them all.
RSVP below to help celebrate America's national monuments.
From Grand Junction to Albuquerque
As Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke wraps up his “review” of national monuments — which could drastically shrink, or even eliminate, some of America’s most recent national monuments — public support for protected public lands is at an all time high.
From Flagstaff to Palm Springs
Utah’s national monuments have been getting a lot of attention lately, and rightly so. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has already hinted at erasing vast portions of Bears Ears National Monument. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned on our Monuments to America roadtrip across the West, it’s that each and every one of America’s national monuments have the same passionate and powerful local support as Bears Ears.
From Las Vegas to Salt Lake City
It’s the end of the road for the Monuments to America road tour. Along the way we passed through the lush alpine slopes of the Rockies and the basins of the Mojave Desert. From ponderosa forests to Joshua trees, the West’s national monuments are as diverse as it’s changing ecosystems and are well-loved by all.
