21 Sep FLDS Polygamist Protest
I was lunching in downtown Salt Lake City last summer and happened across a large demonstration. Hundreds of members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) were at the Matheson Courthouse to protest the sale of land they believed is holy. Many of them had come from Colorado City in Southern Utah, Nevada and Arizona. I spent a few hours among them and found them to be quite friendly and welcoming.
Apparently, their land trust was taken over by the court in 2005 due to allegations that the now convicted FLDS leader Warren Jeffs and others had mismanaged it, resulting in a default on several lawsuits. These poor farmers seemed to be the victims of Jeffs’ corruption and criminal activities.
Be sure to check out an amazing documentary by my friends Tyler Measom and Jennilyn Merten. It’s called Sons of Perdition and documents the difficulties young FLDS runaways face leaving the church. It was recently picked up by Oprah’s new Documentary Film Club which will be debuting in January 2011.
More information about the court case and land sale is available on the KSL website.
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Dirk-Martin Heinzelmann
Posted at 02:55h, 16 Septembergreat photos!
Edna
Posted at 02:25h, 28 MarchI personally have known several of the people in your Salt Lake City photos of the FLDS. I think your work is great
Dan Morris Photography
Posted at 11:23h, 08 AprilThanks Edna!