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Letter: BYU should remove names of racists

(Francisco Kjolseth  |  The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young University (BYU).

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young University (BYU).

I would like to agree with Don Izekor's Aug. 9 commentary, which explores the moral relativism problem. Can early Mormon leaders be forgiven for the white supremacy they practiced?

Izekor asks the question, "Can we say in 1875 that no one knew racism was wrong because of the standards of the time?"

The answer to that is "No."

Vermont abolished slavery in 1777, Ohio in 1802, New York in 1828. Brigham Young was passionately defending slavery and white supremacy in Utah in the decades after these times.

Yes, Brigham Young University should remove the names of racists who are ubiquitous on their campus mocking the idea of equality.

Barbara Taylor, Salt Lake City

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