I write this letter as a public health professional living in Alcalde, urging the Río Arriba County Commission to ensure that the Oñate statue in Alcalde remains permanently removed.
Understanding the profound negative health impacts of racist policies and systemic racism in New Mexico and across the United States, I am glad to see the Oñate statue was removed June 15.
Opponents to the statue’s removal say that we must keep statues like these in place in order to not forget our history, lest we repeat it. To this notion, I argue that we can learn, remember, and not repeat history through other means that do not glorify such racist actors, such as history books, museums and oral histories.
I understand that the Oñate statue was temporarily removed by Rio Arriba County Manager Tomas Campos to protect it from being vandalized. However, I, along with the thousands of anti-racist community members who signed the recent petition, urge the County to take this action one step further and ensure that this statue is not replaced.
Making sure the Oñate statue is permanently removed would display a strong anti-racist stance, embracing our diverse, multicultural County in northern New Mexico.
Now is the time for bold leadership from our County commissioners. Now is the time for them to act. May this be one of many first steps we take right now toward healing and reconciliation for our past, present, and future generations.
Justin Garoutte
Alcalde