Representative Curtis:
First of all, I appreciate what you have done for Provo as mayor and you have been a much better representative for UT-3 than your predecessor. That being said, recent comments made by President Trump are very disturbing, and I feel that a condemnation is appropriate. I am not a fan of Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, or Omar. However, President Trump racist twitter attacks on these individuals (telling them to return to their countries, among other things) do not represent Utah at all. We a state with a proud immigrant tradition and a long respect for religious freedom.
Furthermore, today President Trump accused Representative Omar of being an al-Qaeda sympathizer (Link to the speech https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1150814058268037120). As members of minority religious group, we cannot tolerate these sorts of attacks. My ancestors (and yours as well) were driven out of the United States to the Great Basin because other people felt that they could not be welcome in American society. Even today, some people of the church still spread rumors about terrorist groups and paint us as sympathizers of terrorist attacks like the Mountain Meadows Massacre. What President Trump did in this speech is very similar to sort of slander that our people suffer. We need to stand up for all religious minorities and their privilege to worship how, where or what they may, without being attacked for their beliefs (and there is no reason to believe that Representative Omar supports al-Qaeda except that President Trump thinks all Muslims support al-Qaeda). Joseph Smith and Brighman Young clearly taught that even in Zion, all religions would be protected and have a say within government and therefore we must strive to allow this in these times as well.
Please stand up for the values that have made Utah one of the most successful states in the Union, despite being outcasts in the desert. Please demonstrate the rest of the country that in Utah, we respect people of all races and religions. Please show your charity towards all people and reprove President Trump with sharpness.
I believe in Utah and I believe in you,
[Name Removed]
