I am a Utah resident deeply troubled by a chilling episode from the past, a horrendous act of racial violence that occurred in my state against a man named Thomas Coleman in 1866. He was mercilessly murdered at Arsenal Hill and his body dumped where the Utah State Capitol stands today, for no reason other than being involved in an interracial relationship with a white woman. Brutally beaten on the head with a large stone, his throat slit being stabbed twice in the chest, his death became a horrifying symbol of racial prejudice.

This was all under the watch of LDS Church president, Brigham Young who was vehemently opposed to interracial marriage at that time. Death on the spot was Brigham's protocol for interracial marriage (including their children) as part of a blood atonement that would be a blessing to them. He was not a man of God and influenced many in dark ways. According to Wikipedia, Salt Lake City's population at the time was predominantly white and 90 percent Mormon. Brigham Young was the president of the church and the governor of the territory of Utah. He did not live by the beautiful teachings of his predecessor, Joseph Smith. Brigham lived by his own rules and taught his people incorrect & unholy principles. He taught on 3 separate occasions in 1847, 1852 and 1865 that the punishment for black interracial marriages was death. He gave the example of beheading as a fitting method on one instance. As we know, Thomas Coleman's throat was deeply severed and his body castrated. 

Thomas Coleman, a man seeking nothing more than love and acceptance, was ruthlessly killed simply for daring to date a white woman. Thomas Coleman is believed to have been enslaved at one point by John & Nancy Crosby Bankhead, coverts to the LDS church from Mississippi. Thomas was born in Mississippi in approximately 1832 and arrived in SLC in 1848 when he was only 16 years of age. In earlier records, he was known as Thomas Bankhead but used Coleman (and sometimes Colburn) as his surname following emancipation. He was 35 at the time of his murder and worked for Brigham Young at the Salt Lake House Hotel. There is suspicion that Brigham's "Avenging Angels" carried out this act. 

As a citizen of this state, I feel a deep obligation to confront the dark chapters of our past and keep the memory of such events alive in the interest of building a just society. Coleman's murder, executed with his own knife and leaving him with his throat slit, starkly portrays the face of racial injustice. In commemorating Coleman, we are taking a stand against this brutal reality.

Numerous studies show that racial injustices of the past still ripple through our society today, demonstrating the necessity of remembering incidents like Coleman's murder so they will never occur again. I propose we place a sufficient monument on Capitol Hill, not only to commemorate Thomas Coleman but also to remember all victims of racial injustice.

Thomas Coleman's sacrifice must not be forgotten; it serves as a grim testament to the inhumane treatments people of color have endured. We remember and honor his dignity that was unjustly taken away. 

We propose to place a memorial monument on Capitol Hill in remembrance of Thomas Coleman to serve as a stark reminder of past racial injustices while teaching the rising generation the sins of previous generations so they are never repeated. This monument will also honor countless unnamed victims who suffered similar fates in the history of this nation, bound by their courage and spirit of resilience.

According to a report by the Equal Justice Initiative, "nearly 6,500 racial terror lynchings were documented in America between 1865 and 1950." We can no longer remain silent about these unspeakable atrocities. A commemoration in the form of a monument is the least we can do to acknowledge this painful history, learn from it, and strive towards an equitable society.

Let's stand up against past & current racial violence and discrimination. Raise your hand with me to make Thomas Coleman's monument a reality on Capitol Hill. This can serve as an ongoing reminder of our commitment to combat racial prejudices and work actively towards a society built on equality, respect and understanding. By remembering our past, we can responsibly shape our future. Please join me in asking our local government to erect this monument as a symbol of solidarity and a vow against racial injustice. Currently, there has only been a Juneteenth flag to mark this lynching spot where soil was collected in 2022 and sent to the National Museum for Peace and Justice. Let's propose to do more to create awareness and help heal generational trauma. It is crucially important for current and future generations that we acknowledge, speak candidly about these past atrocities and take accountability for the behavior of Utah's past state and church leaders. Please sign this petition now.