Title: Shooting at Protest Over Controversial Statue of Spanish Conquistador in New Mexico
Subtitle: Demonstrations turn violent as a man is wounded during scuffle
September 28, 2023
Española, New Mexico – A man was shot during a protest against plans to reinstall a statue of a controversial Spanish conquistador in northern New Mexico on Thursday, according to local police.
Demonstrators had gathered in the city of Española in response to the planned reinstallation of a statue honoring Juan de Oñate, a Spanish conquistador who led a massacre of indigenous people more than 400 years ago. The event was canceled due to concerns over public safety, but some protesters still showed up at the site.
Ryan Martinez, a 23-year-old suspect, allegedly shot a man during an altercation that broke out at the protest. The wounded victim was airlifted to a hospital in Albuquerque, and his condition is currently unknown.
Martinez was apprehended at the scene and is now facing charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault, according to New Mexico State Police.
The statue of Oñate previously stood in the neighboring city of Alcalde but was taken down in 2020 following protests calling for its removal. The decision to reinstall the statue in a new location in front of a county building in Española was made by Rio Arriba County commissioners.
Oñate’s brutal actions, including cutting off the feet of some survivors and selling others into slavery, have made him a figure of controversy in New Mexico’s history. Despite the postponement of the statue’s rededication, demonstrators voiced their opposition to its installation.
A witness, Ray Naranjo, captured a video showing the moments leading up to the shooting. In the footage, a scuffle breaks out between one man and a group of others. The man attempts to escape by jumping over a wall before producing a gun and pointing it at the group, resulting in a gunshot.
Authorities are still investigating the incident to determine the cause of the initial scuffle.
Rio Arriba County Sheriff Billy Merrifield, who had expressed his disagreement with the statue’s planned reinstallation, mentioned his concerns about safety and commended the two commissioners who decided to halt the event.
The shooting has once again brought attention to the ongoing debate surrounding controversial historical figures and their commemoration. Similar protests and demonstrations have occurred across the country, with communities questioning the relevance and symbolism of statues depicting slave owners, Confederate leaders, and colonizers.
New Mexico State Police continue to investigate the shooting, while the community grapples with the aftermath.
As tensions remain high, efforts to come to a resolution regarding the future of the Oñate statue and its place in New Mexico’s history are likely to continue.
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Sources:
– Luis Sanchez Saturn/Sante Fe Mexican/AP
– CNN