A man was shot at a protest in Espanola, New Mexico. The demonstration was held over the reinstallation of a statue of the conquistador Juan de Onate, who committed a massacre and enslaved the Acoma Indigenous people in 1599. Oñate was later accused of applying “excessive force” against the Acoma.
The details surrounding the altercation which led to the shooting remain unclear. Both the New Mexico State Police and local authorities confirm an altercation happened but have not provided further specifics. The wounded individual’s condition is unknown, although it’s reported he has been transported to a hospital.
A video shot by an eyewitness during the incident reportedly shows a man in a “Make America Great Again” hat. The man draws a gun and fires after his hat is taken by a group. In respect of the victim’s family, the video is not included in this article. The man in the video is allegedly Ryan Martinez, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, as per Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield’s assertions to CNN.
The incident took place amid protests against the rededication of the Espanola Oñate statue. The statue was first removed in 2020. It was set to be reinstated at the Rio Arriba County Annex building, where the protest and shooting occurred. Following a law enforcement press conference warning of potential violence, two county commissioners decided to delay the rededication, but the protests continued as scheduled.
The Rio Arriba County Office made its stance clear in a statement, expressing disappointment, sadness, and concern over the tragic event, reaffirming support for the right of peaceful assembly under the First Amendment. It also reminded the public that the First Amendment protects the right to engage in speech and to associate with others sharing their views.
The figure of Oñate is a contentious one. Selected by the Spanish crown to impose the food tax on New Mexico’s native population in 1599, he ordered the destruction of the Acoma people’s village in retaliation for their refusal to pay the tax, resulting in the loss of around 1800 lives. Oñate was charged for using “excessive force” against the Acoma in Mexico City, leading to his banishment from New Mexico and temporary exile from Mexico City.
Recently in the US, statues have become a source of controversy, particularly those representing military leaders of the Confederacy during the US Civil War and early colonial and American leaders who owned slaves. In Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, a “Unite the Right Rally” protesting the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee ended in significant violence. One person was killed and dozens injured when a man drove his vehicle into a crowd of counter-protestors. Legal challenges to the removal of controversial statues throughout the US have had varied results in Texas, Tennessee, and Louisiana.