Dear Editor,
Being a born native Hispanic of the Espanola Valley I feel compelled on addressing a few issues mainly revolving the recent Onate Statue event shooting. First does the RA COUNTY or City of Espanola have a Protest permit process and if so should it include a section on protest location(s). In my mind protests should not be held on or near location which promotes additional safety and security risk. Example Imagine a bronze statute being erected and either maliciously or accidentally topple over and up to killing someone near its location? Is there certain criteria that must be followed on not allowing negative slurs at others and if so how does one control perhaps using a mediator. Knowing such events such as the Onate Statue protest and knowing that behaviors will be tested why are these events especially if cancelled or completed not have all protesters removed from locations either previously identified or actual activity site. So much could have been done to prevent violence however the only issue remains is the division of cultures.
Last issue: why did the local law enforcement leave the site right around noon time once law is no longer present it usually becomes a free for all it should have had full coverage until completion of protester/participant removal.
Dale Sanchez,
Nambe