In response to the tragic events that occurred on the campus of UVU earlier this week, a bipartisan coalition of local and national leaders gathered at the state capitol to declare with one voice that violence has no place in Utah. The coalition also announced the launch of turntoward.us – a toolkit for individuals to reduce polarization and build peace in their communities.
“We are united in our commitment to a Utah that rises to meet this moment, not with division, but with a promise to build peace together” says Marianne Viray of Disagree Better. “This moment calls us to make individual choices that uphold the humanity of all, to model more constructive disagreements, to put away our weapons and our words of war.”
The press conference featured remarks from Marianne Viray of Disagree Better, Zac Wilson of the Young Republicans, Jack Davis of the Young Democrats, Tami Pyfer of the Dignity Index, former Rep. Becky Edwards of the Governing Group, and Ashley Bell of Redemption Holding Company.
Former Rep Becky Edwards adds, “Let’s reflect before we act. Let’s lead with dignity. And let’s show, starting here in Utah, that civility is not a weakness — it is the very strength that protects both our communities and our democracy.”
The coalition was joined by over two dozen supporting organizations, including Mormon Women for Ethical Government, Braver Angels, Living Room Conversations, the Wheatley Institute, Waymakers, and the Utah Civics Project.
Community groups and coalition partners stood in solidarity with organizers, reflecting a broad representation of Utahns committed to building bridges and finding common ground, over charged political rhetoric.
About Turntoward.us
A comprehensive digital toolkit designed to give individuals the resources they need to build bridges across political divides.
About the Utah Bridge Builders:
This coalition is a non-partisan group of leaders dedicated to reducing political polarization and fostering constructive dialogues across political ideologies.
Community Organizers
- Braver Angels
- Disagree Better
- Dignity Index
- Living Room Conversations
- Mormon Women for Ethical Government
- The Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University
- Waymakers
Student Groups
- BridgeUSA
- BYU Campus Conversations
- BYU Democrats
- BYU Peacemaker Project
- BYU Political Affairs Society
- BYU Republicans
- Students for Dignity
- The Peacemaking Students at Utah Valley University
- The Peacemaking Students at Utah State University
- U of U Student Group (University of Utah)
Faith Groups
- First Presbyterian Church
- Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable
Advocacy / Civic / Policy Groups
- Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging
- Emerald Hills Institute
- Equality Utah
- FAIR Utah
- Mormon Women for Ethical Government
- One Kind Act A Day
- Redemption Holdings (if you mean Redemption Holding Company, double-check which is correct)
- Sutherland Institute
- Utah Civics Project
- Utah Refugee Connection
- Utah We Believe
- Young Professionals Bonding & Bridging Group
