Skip to main content

Tim DeChristopher protest collection

 Collection
Identifier: ACCN 2739

Scope and Contents

The Tim DeChristopher protest collection consists of flyers and brochures announcing protests in solidarity with Tim DeChristopher. Also included are news clippings and an article written by Maxine Fryer titled "Tim DeChristopher/When it's Right to Do Wrong."

Dates

  • 2011

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Note

Tim DeChristopher disrupted a U.S. Bureau of Land Mangement oil and gas lease auction December 19, 2008, in Salt Lake City, Utah. After he bid $1.8 million to win bids on parcels near Arches and Canyonlands national parks and drove up prices on several others, BLM agents removed him from the auction. DeChristopher acknowledged his false bidding, saying it was an act of civil disobedience in protest of George W. Bush administration policies that he insisted were worsening the global climate crisis. On January 17, 2009, U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina temporarily halted the sale of 77 parcels, finding that the BLM had violated certain environmental protection laws pertaining to air quality and historical preservation. On April 1, 2009, a federal grand jury handed up a two-count felony indictment against DeChristopher that accused him of violating the terms of the auction he promised to observe when he signed up to bid.

On July 26, 2011, Judge Benson sentenced DeChristopher to two years in prison, imposed a $10,000 fine, and ordered him into immediate custody. The court's decision resulted in popular protest in Salt Lake City and other U.S. cities.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 folder)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Tim DeChristopher protest collection (2011) consists of flyers and brochures announcing protests in solidarity with Tim DeChristopher. DeChristopher disrupted a U.S. Bureau of Land Mangement oil and gas lease auction December 19, 2008, in Salt Lake City, Utah. A federal grand jury handed up a two-count felony indictment against DeChristopher that accused him of violating the terms of the auction he promised to observe when he signed up to bid.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Irene Fryer in 2013.

Separated Materials

Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Betsey Welland in 2014.
Title
Inventory of the Tim DeChristopher protest collection
Author
Finding aid created by Betsey Welland.
Date
2014 (last modified: 2020)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863