Trigger warnings: gun violence, colonial violence, racism
Earth Care and YUCCA stand in solidarity with our Indigenous relatives and those who gathered at the peaceful protest on Thursday, September 28, 2023. The gathering was peaceful and prayerful - a call for an end to the celebration of conquest and perpetuation of systems and symbols of white supremacy, colonization, and violence and the need to begin taking steps toward generational justice and healing. As an organization, we are working to dismantle colonialism, white supremacy, patriarchy, capitalism, and the very same systems that caused this violence to occur. It was nothing less than a hate crime and a disgusting display of white supremacy.
This past Thursday, at the peaceful gathering on Tewa territory (Española, NM) in celebration of the postponement of the reinstallation of a Juan de Oñate statue, a racist agitator fired shots into a crowd of people, including children. Indigenous climate activist, Jacob Johns, was shot in the torso while protecting Indigenous women and children who were there. He is currently in the hospital in stable condition. The shooter was arrested and charged with attempted murder. This is a very scary reality for our communities. It's a reality that reflects the treatment and struggle of Native people for centuries under colonialism, particularly how colonizers can attempt to murder Native people and be protected within white supremacist systems. We are outraged and saddened by the hate crime that happened last week and encourage you to learn more and support Jacob and his family, especially if you are a guest on Tewa lands:
Today, as we await the news of the possible release of the Oñate rally shooter, Ryan Martinez, we want to uplift the demands that our movement partners at The Red Nation have drafted that deny the release of the shooter! These demands are as follows:
Do not release the shooter
This shooting must be recognized as A racially-motivated hate crime at all levels of government
Protect Native Women
URGENT ACTIONS TO TAKE TODAY:
These demands and calls to action were shared across social media by relatives at organizations like NDN Collective, The Red Nation, Three Sisters Collective
Contact Senator Ben Ray Lujan (https:// www.lujan.senate.gov|contact/contact-form/ OR (505-337-7023) and Representative Javier Martinez (javier.martinez@mlegis.gov OR (505) 289-3939) and ask them to condone this violent act as attempted murder against Indigenous people and to ensure the safety of the entire community by not allowing Ryan Martinez's release.
Call and demand that Judge Alexandra C. Naranjo (Alex Naranjo Rio Arriba County Commissioner's daughter) recuse herself from the case for conflict of interest (505) 984-3955)
Flood the courts with phone calls! We are urging everyone to call the District Attorneys’ office, call the Governor, call the Attorney General and stop this violent offender from being released into our communities on bond.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY MARY CARMACK-ALTWIES
(505) 753-7131
NM GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM
(505)476-2200
ATTORNEY GENERAL RAUL TORREZ
(505)490-4060
Attend the Rio Arriba County Commissioners' meeting on 10/5 at 3pm MST at 149 State Rd. 162 Tierra Amarilla, NM to continue to demand that the Oñate statue never be erected again!!
Donate and share this fundraiser to support Jacob + his family:
Use these resources to spread awareness:
More info on the calls to action:
Earth Care and YUCCA would also like to amplify the statements made by our relatives at organizations doing environmental justice, gender justice, and climate justice work: