More than two months after the Salt Lake City “No Kings” protest ended in a fatal shooting, Utah’s capital plans to require additional screening for event permits — and those who submit false information could face charges
The June 14 protest, organized by Utah 50501, included armed safety volunteers who were not disclosed on the city permit application for the event. One of those safety volunteers fired his weapon three times at a man he saw carrying a rifle, authorities said.
One shot injured the man with the rifle, but another killed 39-year-old protester Arthur Folasa Ah Loo. The man with the rifle, 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, was initially arrested after the shooting but was later released. Gamboa did not fire his weapon.
Immediately after the shooting, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall ordered a review of the permitting process, according to a Thursday afternoon news release from the city. That review showed that the permit applicant for the “No Kings” protest may not have used the person’s real name.
“Our city is one where our right to free speech and peaceful assembly is both celebrated and encouraged,” Mendenhall said in a statement. “The permitting process is not about reviewing an organizer’s message or purpose — it’s a way for the city to better understand what will occur on its streets and in its public spaces. These updates will strengthen that process and give the city clearer information to support public safety.”
The permit process is encouraged but not required, city permit manager Ryen Schlegel said in June. It is used, he added, to help ensure events held on public property are safe for attendees and for those not attending.
Beginning next year, permit applicants will be required to answer additional security-related questions, provide a day-of-event point of contact, and attest to the truthfulness of the application, according to the Thursday news release.
To allow for better coordination with the Salt Lake City Police Department, applicants must also provide a plan if their event will be using security.
The current application asks requesters if they plan to hire private security or off-duty Salt Lake City police officers for an event. The applicant for the “No Kings” protest stated that the event would not have either of those options.
Lying on the application could result in a criminal charge, according to the news release.
Earlier this month, Schlegel told The Salt Lake Tribune that in a review of 15 cities across the country, his office found none required identification for organizers in protest permits.
In June, Schlegel said his office planned to examine if anything needed to change with the city’s permit process after the shooting.
“We’re going to make sure we don’t add unnecessary obstruction to that,” Schlegel said of the First Amendment, “but we always absolutely look, and we’ll make changes when appropriate, based on experiences we’ve had.”
A spokesperson for the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.