People Will Stand Up --- Even in Utah

A revolution at Tahrir Square in Egypt sparked similar protests against Gadafi in Libya, and now in Saudi Arabia, and even in Kuwait. Perhaps these people gave courage to the hundreds of people who converged on the Capitol Building this evening, the last day of the Utah State Legislative Session.

Carrying signs calling on the Governor to veto HB477, to recall the bill's sponsor, and some other actions less to the point, the people eventually poured into the Capitol Building itself. Some had drums, most had flashlights, all were singing or chanting. The chants went from "Ve-to!" to "Our House!" and ever back to "This little light of mine." The rotunda was filled with the sound of their protestations and it was stirring. A few of the legislators moved with confidence before the crowds, smiling and waving. Most others were tucked away in their closed Caucus Room.

The crowds worked their way up the stairs. They were not allowed into the House or Senate Chambers but chanted out side the doors before moving upstairs to the fourth floor.

At the time, I was awaiting the end of the dinner recess in the House Gallery babysitting the bags and computers of the other PTA Legislative Advocacy Committee members. I turned to the visitors on my left and leaving the supplies in their care, I went out in the hall to see the action.

I tried to take a few pictures with my mobile phone but it isn't a very good camera. Heading back to the south Gallery door, I noticed that the crowds had arrived at the north Gallery door and the security personnel were holding them back. Then I found that the door I had come from was now locked. A few others were in my same situation when we noticed that the north doors were open and people were beginning to file in. We slipped into the group and a few who were anxious to be disruptive were quickly removed.

Rules in the Gallery are that visitors must be seated, no signs and no outbursts. No one however stopped them when they began to sing softly. Sometimes in harmony. I believe that the Republicans who were caucusing across the hall were waiting for them to leave before they began to appear. A couple of the Democrats on the floor made their own sign that said, "We voted NO!" and that brought a cheer from the gallery.

Finally the rest of the legislators wandered in and Speaker Lockhart brought down the gavel to call the meeting to order. When a couple of people called out to disrupt the meeting, The Speaker called them to order but suffered a slip of the tongue, "I will kill --- clear the gallery if necessary." It served to ease the tension; the disruptions stopped and the work of the House went forward --but very circumspectly.

The protests went on in the rotunda for a little while but from the gallery, we couldn't hear much of it after that. My hopes are that the sounds of their voices will not fade away over the next few months. I heard an indication that they won't; a group of people have already filed a referendum on HB 477 with the Lt. Governor's office.

Tahrir Square -- Utah style.