Gun toting 45 supporter continually harassed vendors in Santa Fe

[nolabear]

This horrific story out of Santa Fe. This is what he’s given free rein to. And WTF, police?

“People been changing in the last year and a half, now people are asking where I'm from," says Garcia, shaking his head in indignation. He repeats the sentiment again under his breath, almost to himself. "These people don't know me. They don't know my family. Used to be no one would ask you something like that. Everything has changed here in Santa Fe."

One man in particular seems to to be on a personal mission to make Garcia, and anyone else he suspects to be of Mexican origin, feel out of place.

Wearing a Trump shirt and cap and toting a gun prominently displayed on his hip, the man has gotten on everyone's nerves down at the Santa Fe Plaza, where he has showed up repeatedly over recent weeks to intimidate peaceful protestors, musicians and vendors.

https://www.sfreporter.com/news/2019/08/14/trump-inspired-hate-hits-the-plaza/

[lunatica]

1. I was just down there this Monday.

I’m sorry I missed this. I would have bought a carnita taco and maybe started a conversation with the vendor in Spanish.

I really hate people who harass others in public for crap like this.

I hope the police keep an eye on this man. Maybe the vendor can sue the asshole for driving business away.

[pwb]

2. Mental illness is the problem,

This guy is obviously sane, in republican opposite world......

[nolabear]

5. Some people are just mean.

I don’t know the guy so I won’t venture about his mental health per se but there are indeed people who can get away with being godawful to others and think it’s their right.

[VOX]

3. "...he's within his rights to pack his gun and parade himself around."

“...If his behavior crosses the line, that's another matter...”. And that’s a goddamned city official talking.

What constitutes “crossing the line” here? How many might have to die, just so this MAGAt-cretin can pack iron and threaten people? Hasn’t he “crossed a line” already???

WTF happened to common sense?

[nolabear]

7. My question too.

[GulfCoast66]

24. The killer in El Paso was within his rights...

Until he started shooting people.

The republicans are just crazy.

[tblue37]

4. How is threatening violence not a crime? The article says he threatens violence &

has threatened to shoot Garcia.

[nolabear]

6. RIGHT?? I don't understand that. I do get the vendors' fears.

If the police say he’s been complained about and don’t put a restraining order on him (hell, like that stops people) he could do harm. He needs no access to firearms of any kind.

[Jake Stern]

29. Guaranteed

If someone confronted him carrying equal firepower, this pudgy faux patriot would back down like the coward he is. This loser isn’t about to take two to the chest for Trump. Assholes like him don’t want an equally matched opponent, they want people they can intimidate so when someone steps up that they know can mess their world up they tuck tail and run.

I’ve watched it happen.

[klook]

8. What a dipshit.

New Mexico has a lot of native and Latino residents, and most of them have roots there that go back farther than white people's. And that plaza area has such a nice vibe, I hate to see a pathetic no-life idiot like this fucking it up.

Too bad the city officials are too chicken to run him off or arrest him for being a public nuisance. Probably worried it would result in an invasion by Oathkeepers, Three Percenters, and other fuckheads.

[nolabear]

9. That's the terrorist aspect, isn't it? They've been allowed power

to scare people as much as they want. It’s madness.

[Bradshaw3]

27. My thoughts exactly

I love the plaza and the vibe there. And, as you point out, many people in SF are descended from people who were there long before there was even a United States.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

10. I LOVE Old Santa Fe......

In 2017 and 2018, I never saw any behavior like this. I loved seeing the Chili Ristas hanging, which reminded me of my Grandpap. Hearing the Mariarchis playing in the Plaza. Going to the Loretto Chapel and the Cathedral.

This racist behavior is Trump's doing.

[Atticus]

11. It's his God-given right, don'tcha know, to strut around "strapped" and intimidate people, but just

as soon as the knuckle-dragging ignoramus kills someone, rest assured we'll promptly take the appropriate action, so it's all ok.

Please continue shopping.

(Of course, if this pistol-packer is a POC, dial 911 and call for a SWAT team OR, if you are strapped and you feel threatened, shoot the thug.)

Due to past experience, I guess I need to declare "SARCASM".

[nolabear]

15. It's actually beginning to affect me. There's a festival I'm not going to.

Mavis Staples is singing at a little Sustainability festival at Marymoor Park. It sounds lovely. I’m actually hesitant. What on earth...

[GulfCoast66]

25. Go! Don't let the put fear into you.

Standing up to these people and the fear they are trying to instill is how we win.

[Hoyt]

12. Typical gun-bumper, racist intimidator.

[Jake Stern]

13. Hmmmm. . . .

Had this guy been of a darker hue, he wouldn't even have had the time to threaten a vendor before being body slammed by half a dozen cops.

Instead of justifying the bullshit by saying "he's within his rights", city leaders/police would hold a presser to crow about how they got a dangerous thug off the street.

[Freedomofspeech]

14. Truth.

[RT Atlanta]

16. why dont folks just call the police when they see this?

Call the police, advise someone is threatening with potential assault and let the police do their jobs to, if nothing else, create a paper trail for future action.

[NotHardly]

17. Local Law Enforcement ignoring New Mexico state statute

2011 New Mexico Statutes Chapter 30: Criminal Offenses

Article 3A: Harassment and Stalking, 30-3A-1 through 30-3A-4
Section 30-3A-2: Harassment; penalties.

Universal Citation: NM Stat § 30-3A-2 (1996 through 1st Sess 50th Legis)

30-3A-2. Harassment; penalties.

A. Harassment consists of knowingly pursuing a pattern of conduct that is intended to annoy, seriously alarm or terrorize another person and that serves no lawful purpose. The conduct must be such that it would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress.

B. Whoever commits harassment is guilty of a misdemeanor.

It would appear that the local law enforcement types do not wish to enforce this 8 years old law ... call it "selective enforcement".

[Jake Stern]

19. Sadly many cops are on board with this nonsense

Also they probably have a genuine fear of Trump jumping in and unleashing his minions on SF.

[TygrBright]

18. Thank you so motherfucking much you motherfucking ASSHOLE for enabling this to happen in MY TOWN...

GodDAMMIT!

furiously,
Bright

[bobbieinok]

20. Was in city in 50s when I was in HS. Absolutely loved it. Wanted to visit again.

[BadgerMom]

21. I'm going to buy some of Mr. Roque's carnitas ASAP.

Santa Fe benefits from tourism. This weekend is Indian Market. The town and, especially the Plaza, will be hopping. The police are going to let this slide, intimidating visitors and locals? Don’t tell me he’s within his rights. What about mine? I didn’t know an armed jerk could walk around threatening citizens. You KNOW that if this guy weren’t a privileged white ass that the SFPD would find a way to get him out of there.

[nolabear]

22. If you do give him some DU love!

They might all be heartened to know they’re seen and supported all over the world. And that guy...🤬

[BadgerMom]

23. Will do!

[Thomas Hurt]

26. Mr. Garcia needs to get himself a go pro and record this nutjob.

[ProudLib72]

28. Fuck this bullshit! Hispanics have been there a hell of lot longer than gringos!

Mision de San Miguel built in 1610.

I would like to say what I would do if I saw this, but I would be banned.

[cntrfthrs]

30. oh I'd luv to run into this guy harrassing the original people...

I'd take his gun away from him and stick it up his arse sideways...