JoAnne Johanson, whose youngsters each died whereas experiencing homelessness, attends the annual candlelight vigil honoring those that died whereas homeless this yr at Pioneer Park in Salt Lake Metropolis on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Not less than 159 individuals who have been homeless in Utah died in 2022. (Laura Seitz, Deseret Information)
Estimated learn time: 4-5 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Pioneer Park held a mushy glow within the bitter chilly as neighborhood members gathered to honor and bear in mind those that died whereas experiencing homelessness in Utah.
The vigil was held on Wednesday, which marked the winter solstice, the darkest and longest night time of the yr. The Nationwide Council of Homeless encourages cities to put aside the date to honor those that’ve died inside the yr.
The occasion represents a possibility for the neighborhood to grieve the losses and acknowledge those that’ve died. The 2022 listing of names exceeds the listing from earlier years, in line with the Fourth Road Clinic. Of the 159 folks honored, 154 died this yr and 5 died previous to 2022. The youngest individual honored was 18 and the oldest was 78; two of them are brother and sister, each having died on the age of 18 solely two years aside.
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The vigil’s program featured musical performances by the Different Aspect Academy Choir, remarks from elected officers and a declaration by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox marking the day as Homeless Individual’s Memorial Day, a benediction and a prayer. Every identify was learn aloud to the viewers and a second of silence was held in remembrance.
Because the names have been learn, the group was visibly overcome with emotion. A number of members of the viewers repeated names or yelled out in response.
“I simply need to share a pair phrases, as effectively, in regards to the overwhelming variety of candles we see up right here honoring those that handed whereas struggling with homelessness. Per week earlier than Christmas, once we’re all frightened about shopping for presents to place below our timber, we had 5 folks freeze to dying on the streets,” stated Steffine Amodt, Salt Lake Valley Coalition to Finish Homelessness lived professional activity group member.
Steffine Quantity speaks on the annual candlelight vigil honoring those that died whereas homeless this yr at Pioneer Park in Salt Lake Metropolis on Wednesday. Not less than 159 individuals who have been homeless in Utah died in 2022. (Picture: Laura Seitz, Deseret Information)
Amodt shared her expertise of homelessness and her capacity to beat it. She returned to highschool to obtain her diploma, was a legislative intern through the 2021 session and works as an advocate for these presently unhoused.
“Experiencing homelessness is without doubt one of the roughest issues that I’ve gone via in my life. You carry round with you an insufferable weight and disgrace and worry and hopelessness. There comes a sure desperation of being in a nonstop combat or flight survival mode, and it is exhausting,” stated Amodt.
“My name to motion tonight is straightforward: compassion,” she continued. “Once you see somebody who’s scuffling with homelessness, slightly than turning a blind eye or feeling upset on the unsightliness of the issue, take the time to get to know them and listen to their tales.”
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The vigil comes simply days after state and metropolis officers confirmed that at the very least 5 unsheltered folks had died just lately on Salt Lake Metropolis’s streets. The deaths prompted an emergency declaration from Salt Lake Metropolis Mayor Erin Mendenhall to additional improve capability at homeless shelters, past the flex required in state legislation.
Salt Lake’s emergency declaration and related ones introduced by Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini and South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wooden will carry roughly 95 extra beds on-line. The elevated capability is not going to instantly go into impact and can “take a while to ramp up” as homeless suppliers work to satisfy the necessity, stated Wayne Niederhauser, state homeless coordinator.
Cynda Nygaard attends the annual candlelight vigil honoring those that died whereas homeless this yr at Pioneer Park in Salt Lake Metropolis on Wednesday. Not less than 159 individuals who have been homeless in Utah died in 2022. (Picture: Laura Seitz, Deseret Information)
The deaths prompted outrage from neighborhood advocates and homeless suppliers. Seemingly conscious of the potential backlash Wednesday night time, officers suggested the group to be silent.
“For a lot of of those people, that is the one service that they are going to obtain and the place they are going to be remembered. I encourage you to carry the spirit of reverence in your coronary heart this night as we put apart our private variations and opinions,” Niederhauser stated on the vigil.
A number of neighborhood members held protest indicators on the vigil and referred to as on elected officers, current on stage, to do higher. Indicators learn: “Mendenhall you failed your unsheltered neighborhood” and “inflicting ache and trauma is just not a coverage, it is a crime.”
The protesters have been current all through the vigil and commenced calling out to officers close to the tip. The group referred to as the deaths preventable and pointed to them as a failure on Mendenhall’s behalf. The outburst prompted Niederhauser and Michael Mower, senior advisor to the governor, to shake their heads in response.
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The quantity 159 represents an approximate of those that might have died previously yr whereas experiencing homelessness. To completely inform coverage choices and the influence of homelessness the state health worker will start to trace the housing standing for individuals who died in Utah beginning in 2023, Niederhauser acknowledged.
The information is meant to offer info on the typical life expectancy of somebody experiencing homelessness and provides statistical proof on the causes of dying of these honored locally vigil.
“Allow us to bear in mind the 159 people they have been daughters, sons, moms, fathers, wives, buddies and we honored them tonight. They have been folks with vibrant lives and careers. They’d household that liked them. They endured via struggles and cherished moments have introduced them pleasure similar to all of us right here tonight,” Niederhauser stated.
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Ashley Fredde covers human companies and and girls’s points for KSL.com. She additionally enjoys reporting on arts, tradition and leisure information. She’s a graduate of the College of Arizona.
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TikTok has long known its video livestreams encourage sexual conduct and exploit children yet turned a blind eye because it “profited significantly” from them, according to newly unsealed material in a lawsuit by the state of Utah.
The accusations were made public on Friday, ahead of a scheduled Jan. 19 ban on TikTok in the United States unless its China-based owner, ByteDance, sells the popular social media app.
President-elect Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to put that ban on hold.
TikTok has long known its video livestreams encourage sexual conduct and exploit children yet turned a blind eye because it “profited significantly” from them, according to newly unsealed material in a lawsuit. AFP via Getty Images
TikTok, for its part, has said it prioritizes safe livestreaming.
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Utah’s original lawsuit accusing TikTok of exploiting children was filed last June by the state’s Division of Consumer Protection, with state Attorney General Sean Reyes saying the TikTok Live streaming feature created a “virtual strip club” by connecting victims to adult predators in real time.
Citing internal TikTok employee communications and compliance reports, Friday’s largely unredacted complaint said TikTok learned of the threats Live posed through a series of internal reviews into the feature.
It said a probe known as Project Meramec uncovered in early 2022 how hundreds of thousands of 13-to-15-year-olds bypassed Live’s minimum-age restrictions.
It said many children were then allegedly “groomed” by adults to perform sexual acts, sometimes involving nudity, in exchange for virtual gifts.
The complaint also said a probe launched in 2021, Project Jupiter, found that criminals used Live to launder money, sell drugs and fund terrorism including by Islamic State.
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According to the complaint, a probe known as Project Meramec uncovered in early 2022 how hundreds of thousands of 13-to-15-year-olds bypassed Live’s minimum-age restrictions. Shutterstock
In addition, an internal December 2023 study “documented what TikTok admits is ‘the cruelty’ of maintaining Live with its current risks for minors on the app,” the complaint said.
User safety
TikTok had fought the disclosures, citing confidentiality concerns and its interest in “preventing potential bad actors from getting a roadmap” to misuse the app.
A Utah state judge, Coral Sanchez, ordered the release of much of the previously redacted material on Dec. 19.
“This lawsuit ignores the number of proactive measures that TikTok has voluntarily implemented to support community safety and well-being,” a TikTok spokesperson said on Friday.
“Instead, the complaint cherry-picks misleading quotes and outdated documents and presents them out of context, which distorts our commitment to the safety of our community,” the spokesperson added.
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Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes says the TikTok Live streaming feature created a “virtual strip club” by connecting victims to adult predators in real time. AP
In October, a bipartisan group of 13 states and Washington, DC, separately sued TikTok for allegedly exploiting children and addicting them to the app.
“Social media is too often the tool for exploiting America’s young people,” Reyes said in a statement on Friday.
“Thanks to Judge Sanchez’s ruling, more of TikTok’s shocking conduct will now be public through this unredacted complaint,” he added. “(The) full extent of its culpability can be demonstrated at trial.”
President Joe Biden signed a law authorizing the TikTok ban last April, addressing concern TikTok could gather intelligence on American users and share it with the Chinese government.
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Utah Hockey Club (17-15-6, in the Central Division) vs. Dallas Stars (23-13-1, in the Central Division)
Dallas; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
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BOTTOM LINE: The Utah Hockey Club visit the Dallas Stars after Lawson Crouse’s two-goal game against the Calgary Flames in the Utah Hockey Club’s 5-3 win.
Dallas is 23-13-1 overall with a 10-3-1 record in Central Division play. The Stars have a 13-6-1 record in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent.
Utah has a 4-6-1 record in Central Division games and a 17-15-6 record overall. The Utah Hockey Club serve 10.9 penalty minutes per game to rank second in NHL play.
Saturday’s game is the third time these teams square off this season. The Stars won the previous matchup 3-2.
TOP PERFORMERS: Matt Duchene has 15 goals and 20 assists for the Stars. Roope Hintz has seven goals and one assist over the past 10 games.
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Dylan Guenther has 16 goals and 18 assists for the Utah Hockey Club. Clayton Keller has five goals and eight assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Stars: 6-3-1, averaging 2.8 goals, five assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.1 goals per game.
Utah Hockey Club: 5-4-1, averaging 2.8 goals, 5.3 assists, 4.1 penalties and 9.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Stars: None listed.
Utah Hockey Club: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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