FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2017
Contact: Danielle Segura, Executive Director, Mojave Desert Land Trust
Phone: 760-366-5440 x 230
danielle@mdlt.org

Mojave Desert Land Trust Hosts Rally for California Desert National Monuments

Joshua Tree, CA – Today, Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) hosted a rally with over 250 attendees standing up against the federal attacks on the California desert national monuments.

The rally was held in response to the executive order signed April 26, 2017, instructing the Department of the Interior to review the designations of national monuments under the Antiquities Act. The executive order threatens the protections for the three California Desert national monuments – Castle Mountains, Sand to Snow, and Mojave Trails. The rally featured live music and inspirational speeches from community leaders, including Pat Flanagan, naturalist at the Twentynine Palms Inn, and Kelly Crawford, CEO of Joshua Tree Excursions.

"The reason we have these public lands is because of you,” commented Danielle Segura, Executive Director, MDLT. "But now it's up to all of us to make sure these monuments remain protected."

Because such challenges to the Antiquities Act are a direct attack to our desert lands, MDLT launched its Desert Defenders campaign to rally community members to call in to their elected officials to support the Mojave National Monuments. After the success of the first round of the campaign, the organization built on the energy of the community to offer continued concrete next steps for people looking to get involved with the fight to protect public lands.

Following the rally, the organization moderated a Q&A with Frazier Haney, Conservation Director, MDLT. The session addressed specific questions about the threats to the national monuments, as well as steps the community can take to defend them.

"Our public lands are only as good as all those who participate in them.” concluded Frazier Haney, Conservation Director, MDLT. "I am happy to see all of you here to help us with this fight."

The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to protect and care for lands with natural, scenic and cultural value within the Mojave Desert. For more information, visit www.mdlt.org