Utah Business Revival, a group of small business owners that want to fully reopen Utah’s economy, plans to host a concert later this month in Kaysville. It’s the same group that held a protest in Salt Lake City last month, opposing stay-at-home orders.
Kaysville Mayor Katie Witt, a Republican candidate in Utah’s First Congressional District, has championed the event as a celebration of freedom.
But Councilmember John Swan Adams doesn’t view the concert as a protest protected by the constitution but a large-scale event that goes against health orders. Hundreds of people are expected to attend, even though state directives limit gatherings to 50.
“The Davis County Health organization, the governor, 19,000 cities throughout the United States have all said, ‘we don’t [gather in large groups] right now,’” Adams said. “To make it about the Constitution or the First Amendment is asinine.”
He said the city council is united in its opposition to the event — and so are his constituents.
“The emails I’ve received are unanimously against it, and by unanimous I mean I’ve gotten zero emails in favor of it from Kaysville citizens,” he said.
But Adams has also heard from non-Kaysville residents after Utah Business Revival organizer Eric Moutsos posted a video on Facebook encouraging people to contact Kaysville elected officials to advocate for the event. Moutsos claimed two council members originally supported the concert but changed their minds due to public outcry.
“Especially if you’re a small business owner that knows this is the right thing to do, contact them,” he said.
On Thursday, the city council will also vote on a proclamation that firms up their opposition to the concert as well as a resolution that puts a freeze on issuing special events permits. An hour of virtual public comment will begin at 6 p.m.
Emily Means covers politics for KUER. Follow her on Twitter @Em_Means13
