People hug after a shooting in Española during a prayer event to oppose the reinstallation of a statue of conquistador and war criminal Juan de Oñate. (Photo by Anna Padilla for Source NM)
Some might say that it was bound to happen. Others, that the victim had incited it. Many might say that apparent political violence is getting too close to home here in Colorado.
On Thursday a Trump supporter wearing a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) red hat, pulled out a gun at a peaceful rally in Espanola, (Rio Arriba County) New Mexico, and shot someone. The rally was organized by Native American activists to celebrate the county’s postponement of putting back a statue of the war criminal and Spanish colonizer Juan de Oñate that officials had removed in 2020.
Protestors had placed an altar over the concrete slab where the statue had stood, and in New Mexico fashion, had draped it, placing candles, food, flowers, and messages on the altar.
After a prayer circle that morning, there were dozens milling around outside the closed Rio Arriba County building, eating lunch. Children were playing all across the courtyard of the county building.
Six counter-protestors who had been standing at the back behind those assembled for the news conference explaining the protest, approached the altar. In the ensuing scuffle, one of them pulled out a gun from his waistband and shot climate activist Jacob Johns. Johns is in stable in the emergency room shortly after the shooting.
The Albuquerque Journal identified the shooter as Ryan Martinez, a fervent Trump supporter. The Facebook profile the publication posted noted him wearing a “MAGA hat standing near a Tesla and, in another photo, with a handgun holstered in his pants.
The profile said he went to Los Lunas High School and the bio read, “(expletive) The Chinese Communist Party and (expletive) Joe Biden. TRUMP WON. (pre-law major).”
Don’t call them violent extremists, tho! You might hurt their feelings.
As always, the MAGA crowd are supposedly “the party of law and order.” Except as it applies to them hurting other people. At the U.S. Capitol, at a peaceful protest that had nothing to do with them, but are always armed. I’m actually surprised this wasn’t a mass shooting. In their world, they are right. Everyone else is wrong and has no rights, beliefs, religion, liberties, brains, expertise, skills, education, etc. Our helpful open- and conceal-carry laws are clearly benefiting everyone and doing the job of “good men with guns” keeping unarmed, praying individuals from doing any additional harm to the community. Those alters and candles on a cement slab can be so dangerous.
Anyone who still supports Trump at this point is a xenophobic racist who endorses political violence.
As an aside, I find it hilarious that the same people who are terrified of trans people and drag shows absolutely worship Trump, a gross fat pig who wears more makeup every day than most drag show performers.
It is my personal opinion that no Trump supporter is mentally fit enough to have a weapon much less to be allowed to carry during a protest or ‘counter protest’ which is simply an excuse to pick off those they consider their enemy with support of police who apparently feel the same way. The rule has always been NO weapons at protests. The peaceful protesters are lawful and considerate and they pay by our police allowing them to treat protesters like sitting ducks with no more intention than exactly that. If they will not legislate domestic terrorism laws then they need to protect protests by banning weapons at and around protests and tighten up laws so that police cannot discriminate and refuse to serve the public and protect the peace because of their own flawed political beliefs without being reprimanded or fired.