A Utah House committee declared unanimously Tuesday that it's high time to prohibit slavery — without exception — under the state constitution.
"The word slavery belongs nowhere in any policy or law or documents in Utah. It is an ugly thing. It needs to be removed immediately," said Lex Scott, a leader in Black Lives Matter Utah who said her ancestors were enslaved.
Right now, Utah’s cornerstone document forbids slavery “except as a punishment for a crime,” language taken from the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Rep. Sandra Hollins on Tuesday argued for stripping this loophole from the Utah Constitution, a proposal seconded by religious leaders and activists who said the change was long overdue.