Protestors Gather in Goleta to Protect Public Lands

(Photos: Marian Shapiro)

By Cecily Hintzen 

Protesters gathered today to send a message to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke: don’t privatize public lands.  Tasked with a review of public monuments by President Trump, Zinke is expected to announce recommendations next week that will allow commercial interests to begin mining, drilling, and fracking on public lands. The recommendations may also include the removal of public monument status from some lands so they could be privatized.

Protesters invoked one of Zinke’s heroes, President Teddy Roosevelt, who signed the Antiquities Act and used it to create 18 national monuments, 51 bird sanctuaries, and 100 million acres of national forests. One sign read: “What would Teddy do?”

Locally, Carrizo Plain is one of multiple California monuments under review, but protesters say that all monuments are important and should be preserved.

“The government should not be able to just take the people’s lands away from us,” said Cecily Marble, a Santa Barbara resident and activist.  “These lands should be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations – not stripped of their resources and beauty by private interests.  Zinke needs to protect Teddy’s legacy and do the right thing.”

Zinke’s wife, Lolita Hand Zinke, is from Santa Barbara.

(Our first mayor of  Goleta, Margaret Connell with Congressman Salud Carbajal)
(Our first mayor of Goleta, Margaret Connell with Congressman Salud Carbajal)

(All photos are courtesy of Marian Shapiro)

Edhat Staff

Written by Edhat Staff

What do you think?

Comments

0 Comments deleted by Administrator

Leave a Review or Comment

California News
Border Patrol said it targeted known criminals in Kern County. But it had no record on 77 of 78 arrestees
Border Patrol said it targeted known criminals in Kern County. But it had no record on 77 of 78 arrestees
californianews
Read more
Bernie Sanders rally in LA draws thousands to protest Trump: ‘We can’t just let this happen’
Bernie Sanders rally in LA draws thousands to protest Trump: ‘We can’t just let this happen’
californianews
Read more
What happened to all the clothing donated during the LA wildfires?
What happened to all the clothing donated during the LA wildfires?
californianews
Read more
Federal Antisemitism Probes in California: Is Your College Under Investigation?
Federal Antisemitism Probes in California: Is Your College Under Investigation?
Read more

Reported Gun Seen Near Local Park

Santa Barbara City to Ticket Oversized Vehicles in September