Sidelines are no longer an option
If anyone doubts that the horrific events in Charlottesville, Va., on Saturday (“Three dead in Va. after protest turns violent,” Aug. 13) could not happen in the city of Santa Fe, look no further than the events leading up to the most recent City Council meeting on Aug. 9.
Extremist, racist, nationalist discourse on social media and in print media — including a cartoon using racist slurs and the posting of an image of Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters of California likened to an orangutan — appeared from members of Santa Fe Power, a local political group (“Community organizer sends racially charged image to online critic,” Aug. 3). On Aug. 9, Roger Real, who has been associated with Santa Fe Power, showed up to speak at the City Council meeting flaunting a holstered handgun (“Man packing sidearm says he sought to unnerve people,” Aug. 11).
Mr. Rael spoke with intentional disrespect for the parliamentary organization of the meeting, turning his back on the council and continuing to ramble past his allotted time. He stated his purpose in carrying the gun was to unnerve the people at the City Council meeting and keep city government “on their toes.”
At the meeting, the group Shoulder-2-Shoulder Santa Fe, formed in response to the troubling rhetoric of Santa Fe Power, read from a statement: “Divisive, narrow-minded, racist rhetoric escalates quickly to violence, hate crimes and attacks against communities and individuals.”
Since 2014, the Javier Gonzalez administration has prioritized human rights and social justice concerns. Our mayor has been outspoken in his goal of Santa Fe being a “sanctuary city,” directly opposing many of the immigration policies of the current president. There has been clear support for progressive attitudes in regard to the LGBTQ community. The city has taken a bold step in supporting initiatives that address the needs of our youth — from early childhood education to substantive jobs for 20- to 30-year-olds. These efforts have not been merely rhetoric, but action- and funding-oriented.
I was present at the Aug. 9 council meeting, and while prepared to speak, I did not. Although shocked by Mr. Rael’s behavior, I cannot blame the whole of my inaction on him. I take responsibility for my avoidance. I am not proud of my inaction, and it is most clear to me today that inaction and avoidance are dangerous behaviors that serve the agenda of those who promote hate, fear, racism and violence. I do not want another Charlottesville, 16th Street Baptist Church or Kristallnacht to happen here. The sidelines are no longer an option.
I strongly urge all citizens who feel fortunate to live in a city that prioritizes inclusion, respect, acceptance and discourse through peaceful means: Attend city meetings (the schedule is posted at www.santafenm.gov/2017_meeting_calendar); contact your mayor and counselors and let them know you support a progressive agenda; write letters, learn more about the facts and resist responding in kind to baseless, hate-oriented remarks on social media (I know, it’s hard). Those who promote hate have an organized, growing presence. We must be more organized, more visible and turn out in larger numbers. We cannot afford to wait.