President Donald Trump dramatically cut back the size of two national monuments in Utah on December 4, 2017, Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, in order to rectify what he says was overreach by past administrations. In response to the announcement, several lawsuits have been filed against the Trump Administration. They state the decision violates the Antiquities Act of 1906, which gives the president broad legal authority to protect historic landmarks that sit on public lands. 

Members of the Navajo Nation say the land has long held religious and cultural significance to indigenous peoples, going back thousands of years. One of the businesses suing the Administration is outdoor retailer Patagonia, who replaced its regular home page with a black screen and stark message: “The President Stole Your Land.”

December 12, 2017 video and resource materials from PBS NewsHour.