The first day of the Utah Legislature’s 2026 general session drew multiple demonstrations to Capitol Hill, with activists rallying around issues ranging from immigration enforcement and the war in Gaza to the Great Salt Lake and support for nonprofit organizations.
Protesting ICE
Protesters gathered on the Capitol steps at sunset to rally against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in a demonstration organized by Utah’s Party for Socialism and Liberation. The event drew roughly 500 protesters, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.
Adrian Rolins, an organizer with PSL, said the protest was meant “to send a political message to the Legislature that we are here.”
“We know what’s going on, and we are willing to fight for our neighbors’ rights, for their civil, human and democratic constitutional rights,” he said. He emphasized the protest was meant to provide support “for American citizens (and) immigrants, regardless of their documentation status.”
“PSL’s message for the Utah state Legislature is, ‘stop supporting ICE.’ Don’t allow ICE to come and continue to do operations in this state,” Rolins added. He said PSL wants to “motivate people in the working class to start organizing for a general strike.”
“A general strike looks like labor unions and people from all over the country collectively striking. Not going to work, refusing to do what is necessary to make the country run. We have that sort of power in our hands, and we can utilize it to foment a people’s movement to stop ICE, to stop the support of ICE and the funding of ICE.”
PSL organizer Christopher Loera-Peña is also calling for a general strike.
Protesters denounce the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts during a rally at the Utah State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Will Ruzanski/Utah News Dispatch)
“This is incredibly powerful because it demonstrates the power that working people have,” Loera-Peña said. “We make this country run. If every single worker in Salt Lake City didn’t show up for a day, the entire economy of this city would come to a halt.”
He explained that the Utah PSL chapter’s desire for a general strike is part of a broader, national movement.
“We’re here to stand in solidarity with Minneapolis,” he said. “They’re calling for a city-wide general strike on Friday, and this is the exact type of response that Trump can expect from working people if he does not end this racist terrorizing of our communities.”
‘Freedom march’
Roughly 300 protesters gathered on the Capitol steps at 2 p.m. for the “free America walkout,” a Women’s March rally. Protesters cited concern over Trump’s handling of the Epstein files, immigration enforcement, money in politics, and what many described as a rise in authoritarianism across the U.S.
The We The People’s Movement also contributed to planning the protest.
Nicole Kunz, a demonstrator at the rally who came dressed in a green gown turning lyrics from the Broadway hit “Wicked” into a message against tyranny, said she was protesting immigration enforcement along with the killing of Renee Good, a 37-year old woman who was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
Protesters rally against President Donald Trump’s administration at the Utah State Capitol on the first day of the legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Will Ruzanski/Utah News Dispatch)
“I’m here because I’m sick and tired of Congress not standing up for the people,” she said. “I think it’s disgusting that the terrorist organization known as ICE is walking around our streets, kidnapping and killing people.”
She also expressed her concern with the Legislature’s handling of Utah’s ongoing redistricting saga.
“They don’t listen to us, we voted to make our maps. They don’t like it because they like to control everything,” she said. “They don’t like when the people get to have a voice. And so now they’re doing everything they can to gerrymander us yet again, and we’re sick of it.”
Kunz referenced the delayed release of files pertaining to deceased sex trafficker Jefferey Epstein, and his alleged connections to powerful politicians and businesspeople. “I think it’s insane that Trump’s DOJ doesn’t have to be held accountable,” she said. “They’re 30 days past when they were supposed to bring everything to the table.”
Nicole Kunz participates in a rally against President Donald Trump’s administration at the Utah State Capitol on the first day of the legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Will Ruzanski/Utah News Dispatch)
Charlie Padilla also protested the Trump administration’s handling of files from the investigation into Epstein.
“We need to release the Epstein files and hold predators accountable, especially those in power that use their wealth and influence to take advantage of children,” he said. “It’s impacted and infested every level of government, every level of business, and we have to … prevent these atrocities from taking place against our children.”
Padilla, with the We The People’s Movement, called the protest necessary to prevent a rise in authoritarianism. “In order for us to do something about it, to stop the wave of fascism that we’re experiencing, we have to take collective action,” he said. “We have to get out, use our voices and make sure that we organize in order to bring about real change.”
Gaza protest
Earlier in the day, demonstrators gathered in the Hall of Governors inside the Capitol to read the names of children killed in Gaza. Organized by Utahns for a Just Peace in the Holy Land, the protest lasted three hours.
Gail Boling, a protest organizer, said she believes “Utahns have responsibility” for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “The American taxpayers have helped fund this genocide in Gaza,” she said, referencing the $17.9 billion in U.S. military funding sent to Israel in 2024.
“We think that the legislature can have a role to play in helping shape foreign policy,” she said, encouraging Utah’s legislators to “influence congressional representatives who can also help shape foreign policy.”
Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake City, was among lawmakers who joined the protest, calling to terminate U.S. military aid for Israel. Rep. Raymond Ward, R-Davis, also participated in reading names.
“I don’t think we should be involved in aiding and abetting a genocide, and that is what we are doing,” Blouin said. “It’s critical that we are able to raise the awareness of people to get involved at the state level.”
Members of the 71 Percent Coalition, a pro-Palestinian organization, also joined the protest. Among them was Mustafa Khader, a Palestinian American.
“We want to emphasize that the genocide in Gaza did not stop, despite, the ceasefire,” Khader said. “The killing and the abuse is going on.”
Nonprofits rally
The Utah Nonprofits Association rallied on the Capitol steps in a nonpartisan demonstration to draw “positive attention” to Utah’s nonprofits.
“We want to start this session with the people on the ground, the hard-working nonprofit service providers, the educators, the helpers in mind,” said Saru Ramanan, chief growth officer for the Utah Nonprofits Association.
She pointed to the community-based work that nonprofits do in Utah. “I think far too often, people don’t realize that nonprofit organizations are the ones delivering meals, responding to crises, showing up for communities and Utahns in need.”
Ramanan emphasized the importance of their rally landing on the first day of the 2026 legislative session, calling for “no barriers to nonprofits accessing vital funding, continued support for community-based organizations, and broad local partnership between legislators and the organizations in their communities.” She noted that the event was not a protest.
Will Ruzanski wrote this story as part of a collaborative news internship with Utah News Dispatch and Amplify Utah covering the 2026 Utah Legislative Session.
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