On June 14, a large protest event called the “No Kings” demonstration took place in downtown Salt Lake City, drawing over 10,000 attendees to advocate for pro-democracy and civil rights.
However, the event was marred by a tragic incident involving the fatal shooting of Arthur “Afa” Folasa Ah Loo, a 39-year-old bystander and resident of Clearfield.
Despite the protest being otherwise peaceful, the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the event organization raise significant concerns that remain unresolved more than a month later.
As details continue to unfold, it has become apparent that the ability to hold a large public demonstration with armed personnel is far more accessible than acquiring alcohol legally in Utah.
For instance, any attendee wishing to enjoy a drink at a bar would need to produce a driver’s license, while permits for massive demonstrations seem to be issued with greater ease.
At the heart of this issue is the lack of transparency regarding the individuals responsible for planning and managing the event.
It remains unclear who made the decision to include armed “peacekeepers” at the demonstration, which only complicates matters given that the event organizers have a level of responsibility for the safety of their attendees.
The police currently hold the identity of the individual who discharged the weapon that killed Ah Loo, yet they have not revealed this information to the public.
Witnesses and available reports indicate the shooter aimed at another individual, Arturo Gamboa, a 24-year-old man who attended the protest carrying an AR-15-style firearm.
While Gamboa did not fire his weapon that day, the presence of an armed individual likely prompted an overreaction from the armed peacekeeper, who perceived Gamboa as a threat.
Gamboa himself was injured in the incident and later arrested; however, he was released shortly thereafter due to difficulties in charging him under Utah’s lenient gun laws, which complicate legal proceedings following such incidents.
As civil rights organizations, such as the ACLU of Utah, have pointed out, the public deserves assurance that demonstrations, encapsulated by the First Amendment, can be conducted without fear of violence.
The current situation calls for an in-depth investigation into how events like the “No Kings” demonstration are permitted and regulated within the city. The Salt Lake City Police Department was responsible for issuing the parade permit to Michael Andaman, a figure that remains largely unknown, representing a corporation based in Wyoming.
Furthermore, the event was sponsored by the Utah chapter of an organization known as 50501, which has garnered attention for coordinating similar pro-democracy efforts nationwide.
Interestingly, other protests held nationally on the same day, opposing the policies of President Donald Trump, did not experience violence, raising questions about the unique circumstances in Salt Lake City.
In light of the tragic events, the national organization has severed ties with the Utah chapter, emphasizing that they uniformly prohibit firearms at all their events.
This tragic incident underscores the need for municipalities to reevaluate how permits for public demonstrations are granted and to ensure that appropriate security measures are in place.
It should not fall to untrained, self-appointed individuals to safeguard such events, a responsibility that should instead be managed by qualified law enforcement.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall along with the City Council must examine current permit regulations and take action to clarify that possession of firearms at public demonstrations is unacceptable.
Local governments hold the vital responsibility of maintaining public safety while upholding the constitutional rights of assembly, and a careful analysis of these events could prevent further tragedies from occurring in the future.
image source from：sltrib
