The lawsuit filed by Utah officials challenging President Biden’s restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments is not only in direct opposition to the wishes of Indigenous Peoples, local activists, and the outdoor recreation community, it is an attempt to gut the Antiquities Act and chip away at the federal government’s ability to protect public lands and waters. Patagonia remains committed to protecting nature in partnership and solidarity with local and indigenous people. That’s why, alongside the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition and local conservation groups in Utah, we called on President Obama to establish Bears Ears National Monument, and it’s why we joined our partners to sue President Trump when he tried to rescind President Obama’s designation. At a time when significant progress is being made toward historic cooperative management of the monument between federal agencies and tribes, this lawsuit works to undermine the years of advocacy and overwhelming public support for this effort. We will continue to work closely with partners to protect this unique and sacred landscape, as the shortsighted greed of extractive industries knows no end.
Ryan Gellert, CEO, Patagonia
This statement was originally published on LinkedIn.