I’m going to miss the hell out of covering this quirky state. It’s been such an honor.

Now I get to cover the White House?! How cool! And I’ll still get to be on the radio just nationally?! How cool!

Dreams do come true, y’all.

I wrote hundreds of articles. Hosted an award-winning podcast. Made such valuable connections with Utahns. I’m so thrilled of the work I’ve accomplished at a small and mighty station.

I wouldn’t have made it to NPR without KUER.

It’s bittersweet leaving a job I loved at KUER. I loved covering local Utah politics. I loved spending time at the Capitol. I loved learning the ins and outs of this state. I loved my editors. My coworkers. Fellow journalists.

www.kuer.org/news/2025-06...

We are waiting for law enforcement to come talk to media.

This is what SLCPD said. One critically injured.

From SLCPD. A shooting is confirmed.

People started to run, claiming there was an active shooter. THAT IS NOT CONFIRMED.

But cops did approach the crowd, saying there was man with a gun, dressed in all black and asking where he was.

Fire truck is present and cops started triggering their sirens.

People are also spilling out of restaurants and perching outside of their balconies in support of the protest.

The Cathedral Church of Saint Mark Episcopal rang its church bells as the swarm of protesters passed the brick building. The crowd reputed in cheers once the bells started.

Made it to the court house. I think that’s halfway there? I also haven’t seen much uniformed law enforcement. I’ve seen police cars blocking off roads.

Protest organizers and volunteers are disbursed within the crowd to keep everything moving and to make sure everyone is being safe.

Cars are honking, people are chanting and thousands (don’t know an exact estimate yet) are marching. The demonstrators are taking up the entire extra wide Utah roads.

Ok, demonstrators are starting to walk up 400S toward the federal building. People are chanting “Fu*ck Donald Trump” and “Fu*k Mike Lee” and “No ICE, no KKK, no fascist USA”

Johnson (who is a public defender) also promised to help defend protesters if the event they are arrested.

He encouraged everyone to not fight the cops if they are arrested.

He’s explaining why some people are covered head to toe in black (they don’t want to be identified), telling everyone to disband their biometrics on their phone and to put a pin and not Face ID, tells no one to give the cops their phone, etc.

Organizers asked protesters again to not engage with agitators.

Jiro Johnson, the new SLCo member, is speaking. He’s warning that protesters might still be arrested even though this is supposed to be peaceful. He’s giving safety tips.

So. Many. People. And much more expected to funnel in.

Organizers are reiterating that this is a peaceful demonstration. They’re encouraging protesters to not interact with counter protesters.

So far, I don’t see any.

People will be speaking for the next hour or so about why people are gathered today. It’s a laundry list of grievances with the Trump admin, including immigration policies, LGBTQ+ issues, the Israel/Palestinian conflict and the economy.