As our executive director, Jennifer Rokala, told reporters this afternoon, “America has spoken loud and clear: protect and enhance national monuments, don’t eliminate them. It’s not too late for Interior Secretary Zinke to heed the word of an overwhelming majority of Americans by upholding Bears Ears National Monument and the dozens of other natural wonders under attack. Unfortunately, this administration, under Secretary Zinke’s leadership, has demonstrated its priority is carrying water for special interests and not working on behalf of all Americans.”

A full-text search reveals 55 percent (358,822) of comments posted specifically mention Bears Ears National Monument, with a similar near-unanimous ratio of support for keeping Bears Ears intact.

The Center for Western Priorities also identified approximately 4,800 comments from self-identified Utah residents. Of those Utahns, a random sample (n=823) reveals 88 percent support for keeping monument status for Bears Ears or Grand Staircase–Escalante national monuments.** These results are consistent with CWP’s previous analysis which found comments from Utah residents support national monuments by a nine‑to‑one margin.