The statue installation and morning event at the Rio Arriba County building in Española were canceled Wednesday evening due to concerns about an ongoing protest at the site, but groups continued to gather there, including Native activists. A shot was fired amid a scuffle.
Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Gurule said a man was taken into custody shortly after the shooting, around 12:15 p.m.
According to a witness, the victim was a resident of Spokane, Wash. The woman said she and the man had come to the area together for a climate conference and joined the protest when they learned about it.
Other protesters provided aid to him for more than 10 minutes until emergency medical personnel arrived and took him to Presbyterian Española Hospital. Gurule said the man was shot in the chest or stomach and was in stable condition.
The Red Nation: editortherednation@gmail.com
Three Sisters Collective: message3sc@gmail.com
September 28, 2023, 9AM MT
TEWA TERRITORY – ESPAÑOLA, NM
RIO ARRIBA COUNTY ANNEX BUILDING – 1122 INDUSTRIAL PARK RD, ESPAÑOLA, NM 87532
LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ORGANIZATIONS OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICO, AND INDIGENOUS-LED ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE RED NATION, THREE SISTERS COLLECTIVE, COALITION TO STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST NATIVE WOMEN, AND NDN COLLECTIVE INVITE THE PUBLIC TO PRAYERFULLY PROTEST THE REDEDICATION OF WAR CRIMINAL JUAN DE OÑATE’S STATUE IN FRONT OF THE RIO ARRIBA COUNTY ANNEX BUILDING.