National 50501 organization is cutting ties with Utah branch responsible for SLC ‘No Kings’ protest

Update, 6:17 p.m.

ABC4.com spoke with Mary Corporon, an attorney representing Utah 50501, and she provided the following statement:

“50501 Utah is extremely concerned about the quantity of information that is on social media about this whole situation which is incorrect. And there is too much inaccurate information to be able to correct it all at any source. Furthermore, the Salt Lake City Police Dept is conducting an investigation and 50501 does not wish to do anything that may interfere with the police doing a thorough investigation. We do not want to comment at this time.”

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The national 50501 organization has cut ties with the Salt Lake City branch following the deadly shooting at the Salt Lake City protest that occurred on June 14.

A man, identified as a ‘peacekeeper,’ working as a safety volunteer at the protest, opened fire after he reportedly saw a man, later identified as 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, carrying an AR-15 rifle. 39-year-old Afa Ah Loo was hit in the crossfire and later died of his injuries. Gamboa has been arrested and is facing homicide charges, and the ‘peacekeeper’ is not in custody currently.

Previously, Utah 50501 stated that the ‘peacekeeper’ was a safety volunteer with the organization and a military veteran. They said that the man was selected as a volunteer because of his military, first responder, and other de-escalation experience.

The national 50501 organization made the announcement that they were cutting ties with the SLC branch in a social media post. They stated that beyond the statement, they cannot offer additional comment on the situation because it is still an active legal investigation.

“We are decentralized. Each local group is autonomous, and they are responsible for their planning. Due to SLC 50501’s disregard for our nonnegotiable values, we are no longer affiliated with them,” they wrote.

The organization shared their grief and sorrow for the loss of Afa Ah Loo and stated that they are grieving alongside the entire Salt Lake City community.

“50501 is rooted in nonviolence, collective care, and principled protest,” they stated. “Every action organized under the 50501 name is expected to uphold a strict no-weapons policy, without exception. We hold ourselves and all actions associated with our banner to these uncompromising standards.”

50501 said that based on information currently available, “it appears that the events in Utah by Salt Lake City 50501 did not meet those standards.”

“The presence of weapons, and any action that endangers lives, stands in direct opposition to the values we uphold,” they continued. However, they also acknowledged that while they do not permit firearms at their protests, Utah law allows for the open carry of weapons, “and this reality shaped some of the events that unfolded.”

50501 also took responsibility for the inaccuracies in their initial statements in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, as they were working with “fast-moving and incomplete information.”

“We acknowledge and own those mistakes, and we deeply regret any additional harm this may have caused to Arturo. We took down the misinformation once it was flagged,” they wrote. They stated that they will continue to be committed to “transparency and care” and that they will “amend any misstatements as facts emerge.”

50501 also reaffirmed their political values, denouncing “the oppressive systems, deeply rooted in this country’s history, that have long criminalized, surveilled, and suppressed communities of color.”

“As we mourn Afa’s loss, we are taking deliberate steps to ensure that the name 50501 continues to reflect the values we hold sacred: disciplined, accountable, and life-affirming,” they concluded. “Our commitment to building a movement rooted in truth, nonviolence, and the inherent dignity of all people remains unchanged.”