In a city better known for its tree-lined neighborhoods than for political activism, a grassroots movement is encouraging residents to speak truth to power and find common ground. The Holladay Resistance Group is a community of engaged residents who are standing against what they consider to be attacks on the county’s democracy by the current administration.

Although it started in Holladay, people from neighboring cities have begun participating on its Facebook page, attending monthly meetings and making calls to action. Becky Suchy is one of the founding members of the group, advocating for an informed populace and the protection of constitutional rights.

“In this environment, it can be easy to get discouraged and feel like there’s not a lot of hope, that you can’t make a difference in any way, and that’s a bad place to be,” Suchy said. “We wanted to find people who were like-minded about wanting to make the world a better place and making changes that matter.”

The idea seems to have resonated with people who feel frustrated with state and federal leadership. The Holladay Resistance Group is gaining traction by promoting civic engagement, encouraging peaceful protest and holding discussions about timely topics. 

Dozens of residents attended a recent meeting at the Holladay Library, which featured Brigadier General and former state representative David Irvine. He discussed how the major political parties have changed over the last decade, the state’s nomination procedures and gerrymandering, and how people can make a difference in today’s political landscape.

“James Madison wrote in ‘The Federalist Papers’ about this kind of legislative power grab,” Irvine said. “He said, ‘An elective despotism was not the government we fought for.’ I think that’s an apt piece of advice for us. Tyranny is tyranny, whether it’s the tyranny of the king, of the dictator, of a man, king, president, or of the legislature that is drunk with power and wants to control everything.”

The group has brought in other speakers, including Rep. Carol Spackman Moss and former Congressman Ben McAdams, to discuss topics of interest and to educate voters. Members of the group are encouraged to attend rallies and protests, to call their representatives and to support each other in their search for truth and justice. 

Holladay resident Peter Grogan attended the meeting to get different people’s perspectives and to try to understand what he called the “political craziness” of the current situation. 

“The country’s in trouble, our society is in trouble, democracy is in trouble and I think most of us are sleepwalking,” Grogan said. “We’ve got to start paying attention. I want to see where I can best spend my time and effort to help right the ship, because the ship is not upright now.”

For information about meetings, volunteer opportunities and calls to action, contact Suchy at [email protected] or visit the Holladay Resistance Group Facebook page to join the private group. 

“The lack of humanity that’s happening is not OK,” she said. “If we can find a community where people feel like they belong and they can make a difference, and not just sit around and be angry and frustrated and discouraged, if I can offer someone just a thread of hope, that makes me so happy.”