Protesters pull down controversial obelisk in Santa Fe plaza

[Ponietz]

Source: KRQE

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Santa Fe crews are at the Plaza cleaning up what’s left of the obelisk protestors tore down. A protest at the Santa Fe Plaza got tense on Monday afternoon with protestors toppling the obelisk. It comes after three days of protests, where some chained themselves to the controversial monument; The obelisk has stood there since the 1800s.

“Whether we like it or not history it’s history and any nation that forgets its past has no future,” said Curtis Valdez of Santa Fe.

City workers were constructing a barrier around it Monday to protect it but protestors managed to wrap ropes around it and rip it down. Video from the Santa Fe New Mexican shows no police on-site as protestors took over. Witnesses told the New Mexican that police were there earlier in the day to forcibly remove demonstrators who were laying on the monument but they left. This comes after a three-day occupation at the Plaza, protestors angry that this obelisk still stands.

It was erected in 1866 to honor Civil War-era soldiers who died in battle. It’s been criticized for being oppressive to Native Americans. Earlier this year, Mayor Alan Webber ordered the obelisk removed, it was too heavy, so only the plaque was removed. The mayor promised further discussion on its future. Monday on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, these protestors supporting Native Americans took drastic measures. Some people applaud the move, others are angry.
(More)

Read more: https://www.krqe.com/news/protests/controversial-obelisk-in-santa-fe-plaza-torn-down/

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The monument honored Confederate traitors as well as Union soldiers. Glad to see it gone. We’re remembering the past and rejecting the Whitewash.

[regnaD kciN]

1. It should have come down...

...but this, combined with the similar action last night in Portland, is basically giving Trump the basis to pivot to "ZOMG The Radical Left!!!" for the next three weeks, turning the focus away from his mismanagement of the COVID crisis.

[certainot]

14. the main reason

that this:

giving Trump the basis to pivot to "ZOMG The Radical Left!!!" for the next three weeks, turning the focus away from his mismanagement of the COVID crisis.

has any validity is that democrats continue the biggest political mistake in history and let 1500 coordinated radio stations licensed to operate in the public interest make it so, without complaint and endorsed by 87+ university and dozens of pro sports team broadcasts

and UNM lobos broadcast and advertise on limbaugh station KKOB in albuquerque, and their local blowhards will condemn and distort what happened to listeners all over the state

[riversedge]

2. "Monday on Indigenous Peoples' Day, these protestors supporting Native Americans took drastic measur

https://www.krqe.com/news/protests/controversial-obelisk-in-santa-fe-plaza-torn-down/

......................It was erected in 1866 to honor Civil War-era soldiers who died in battle. It’s been criticized for being oppressive to Native Americans. Earlier this year, Mayor Alan Webber ordered the obelisk removed, it was too heavy, so only the plaque was removed. The mayor promised further discussion on its future. Monday on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, these protestors supporting Native Americans took drastic measures. Some people applaud the move, others are angry.

“I am for the Native Americans and for their rights. And I’ve represented the Navajos in many ways too,” said protestor Lisa Law.

“I think it’s terrible, I think it’s terrible, I mean you’re destroying beauty,” said Elmer Vamhrm, who is opposed to the protesting.

KRQE News 13 reached out to police to see if any arrests have been made but have not heard back. There has also been a very active group in Santa Fe fighting to keep monuments such as this. They argue many are part of our history and its a disservice to the Spanish people to remove such monuments. There have been several counter-protests at sites like the Onate and De Vargas statues.

[Catcar]

3. Trump hates losers? Then why does he fight so mightily to keep up statues of confederate soldiers?

I'm confused. Can someone please explain this two-faced posture?

[magicarpet]

5. It is a hot button social issue.

Nazis support trDump. So trDump supports these Confederate statues that Nazis like. Then trDump hopes the Nazis vote for him.

[Catcar]

7. The Nazi's were the losers as well. See what I mean? He seems enthralled by losers.

[magicarpet]

8. trDump somehow visualizes them as tough guys.

trDump worships bullies, tough guys and bone crushers.

trDump burnishes his tough guy persona on a daily basis. He thinks this makes him popular and electable.

[Catcar]

9. Trump is a coward. He is attracted to losers and losers are attracted to Trump. Period.

[SpankMe]

6. Um, yeah. This is vandalism and bullshit.

Vandalizing hundred plus year old monuments in a hissy isn't required to reject the whitewash. This kind of crap gives conservatives fuel to bring moderates over to their side. There are constructive ways to reject the whitewash that doesn't feed conservatives' overblown narratives about us.

The cops should enforce the law and arrest some people. We expect no less when conservative assholes vandalize the environment in protest.

[fantase56]

10. Yes. I live in Santa Fe.....

this is just vandalism. Nothing accomplished.

[ancianita]

11. I don't understand what you're saying. I ask because I have family and friends in NM.

Is the mayor wrong? What makes it vandalizing? Bullshit?

What are the constructive ways that moderates have not used to "reject the whitewash"?

Why should any of us care about "conservatives' overblown narratives about us"? Who is "us"?

Please give an example of the above, and one of " when conservative assholes vandalize the environment in protest."

Do you agree that oppressive environments exist?
Do you think it's right or wrong to change those environments? If it's wrong, how long should that take, approximately? For how long should the conservatives' monuments to the confederacy be allowed to stand? How long should indigenous and black people live with this?

[certainot]

15. exactly. put these fucking things in museums. just because they can blast the country and paint

progress and justice as 'political correctness' because they're loud is total bullshit

humans need the change quick before the planet burns

Please give an example of the above, and one of " when conservative assholes vandalize the environment in protest."

that's a real thing been going on long time, and not just environment but petroglyphs etc. and is often related to trying to open wilderness and protected areas to ATV and timber co access.......

[ancianita]

16. I hear you. But I was really, seriously asking for Fantase56's answers. I want to know how that

thinking works. But s/he won't answer. Puzzling.

Your example of the environment's destruction by so-called conservatives is a good reminder of how they're very selective about what they "conserve," aren't they.

Like "conservatives" historically conserve
rich people,
slavery,
white supremacy,
for-profit health care,
control over women,
corporations as people,
money as speech,
symbols of dominance and war,
the use of force to kill or stomp the physical and psychological shit out of anyone who wants
a) his/her tax money spent on the rest of us who don't make $400,000 incomes,
b) a president of all the country, not just those who voted for him/her,
c) mere equality,
d) law enforcement that equally enforces.

[dalton99a]

12. It read "Savage Indians"

[fantase56]

13. Yes, it did

and it could have been rededicated. Nothing accomplished, whatever.

[Laha]

17. Nothing. Except

The scab of an old wound has finally been cleaned off. Let the rethuglicans pontificate and whine and cry about the erasure of their history. They are owning their own racism. The native peoples of the Americas have been dealing with having their history and culture stolen and destroyed since the greedy white fucks got here. Fuck them.

[llashram]

18. but, but

no one is mentioning, caring about the genocide perpetrated by the 'heroes' mentioned on this ode to white genocide of the First-American nations. Always worried about the optics when the concrete reason(s) behind toppling this abomination is lost in the politics. Millions slaughtered in the name of white western expansion. That is where reality starts and the "bullshit" ends. Not some fear of nazi retaliation at the polls.

[Aristus]

19. If statues are the only way these idiots learn history,

can we have a few more statues of Robert E. Lee surrendering to General Ulysses Grant?

[Ponietz]

20. Update:

[link:https://www.krqe.com/news/protests/controversial-obelisk-in-santa-fe-plaza-torn-down/|

[pfitz59]

21. Know your Civil War History - The "Navajo Wars"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Canyon_de_Chelly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navajo_Wars