The Tree is an important symbol of a prominent religion centered in Provo Utah. The followers of The Tree have never been given much respect or recognition from the government of Provo, however, now it has gone too far. In the morning of August 18th, construction workers on the city's payroll forcibly marked The Tree for removal. The workers used spray paint to mark the bark of the tree with crude and obscene images. Worst of all no contact was even made with the leadership of the followers of The Tree, and The Tree and it's followers were treated with no respect.

The followers of The Tree just want to be treated with the same respect given to everyone else, to be able to practice religion as they please without fear of the government interfering, let alone physically attacking and violating their place of worship.

The lack of recognition the followers of The Tree have received has always been disrespectful, disgusting, and likely founded in hate, but the blatant disregard for the beliefs of others is frankly disturbing. You may not be a follower of the tree but this will undoubtedly lead to more disrespect and persecution of religious ideals in the city of Provo, and ultimately, the world.

"First they came for the communists,     And I did not speak out    Because I was not a communist.

Then they came for the socialists,    And I did not speak out    Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,    And I did not speak out     Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,     And I did not speak out     Because I was not a Jew.

And then they came for me,    And there was no one left to speak out for me."

-Martin Niemöller