Dear Fellow Republicans,
We have received many calls, text messages, and emails over the past weeks from concerned parents of schoolchildren, regarding the implementation of Critical Race Theory in our state educational curriculum. We would like to thank all of those who have reached out to the party and to your representatives to express these concerns.
We oppose Critical Race Theory being taught in our schools. This Country, while imperfect, is the place that teaches that no matter your social class, economic condition, race, or gender, you have the opportunity to achieve anything. This is the basis of the American Dream.
Racism is un-American. We must make it clear that here in Utah, we will not teach our children that one race is inferior or superior to another. We want Utah children to lead our Country on a brighter path forward.
Our elected officials have weighed in on these issues over the past weeks:
“Everyone is created equal and should be judged by their character, not the color of their skin. For this reason, we oppose critical race theory being taught in schools. American history should be taught in a way that highlights our country’s highs and lows, triumphs, and mistakes. We do not want to erase or bypass history, but we need to prevent schools from endorsing discriminatory concepts." -Utah State Senate
"Driving this radical, perverse campaign is the “1619 Project.” This project seeks to “reframe the country’s history” by redefining the birth of our nation not as the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, but as 1619, the year slaves first arrived in North America. It characterizes our country as fundamentally racist, and its lead essayist insists “anti-black racism runs in the very DNA of this country.” This disruptive, inaccurate retelling of history is destructive to the teaching of our youth." - Rep. Chris Stewart
“I grew up attending segregated schools in the Jim Crow South during a time when people were treated differently based on the color of their skin. Critical Race Theory preserves this way of thinking and undermines civil rights, constitutionally guaranteed equal protection before the law, and U.S. institutions at large. This is the United States of America, and no one should ever be subjected to the discrimination that our laws so clearly prohibit."
-Rep. Burgess Owens
"Citizens across the state have expressed concerns to their Representatives about federal policies in these two areas that contradict the principles and values that a majority of Utahns hold. In our federalist system, it is our role and duty as a state to be a counterweight to the federal government and protect the rights and promote the interests of our citizens. We are determined to take action to benefit the people of Utah.” - Utah House of Representatives
We stand with our elected officials in representing many Utah Republicans and their desire to keep Critical Race Theory out of our schools.
Utah GOP Leadership
Carson Jorgensen, Chairman
Jordan Hess, Vice Chair
Olivia Horlacher, Secretary
Mike Bird, Treasurer
