After claiming she will not be ‘intimidated,’ Gov. MLG cancels event in fear of ‘lizard people’
To say embattled Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s campaign reelection bid has had a rocky start is an understatement. After a tumultuous, scandal-ridden tenure as chief executive, Lujan Grisham is facing swaths of protesters at her campaign events.
During her reelection announcement event, Lujan Grisham and other speakers were drowned out by anti-MLG protesters fed up with the governor’s handling of the pandemic and her abuses of power while serving in her role. The protesters were regular, everyday New Mexicans, including retired teachers and nurses, who were using their free time to make their voices heard.
Frustrated by the protesters, Lujan Grisham bashed them as “QAnon lizard people,” a sentiment comparable to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s “basket of deplorables,” Joe Biden’s “chumps,” or Peter Strzok’s “ignorant hillbillies” comments.
While running for election in 2018, Lujan Grisham made similar comments toward rural New Mexicans, bashing people who live in Deming. She said, “I met a woman in Deming. Her name is Gladys. So she’s not—she wasn’t born in New Mexico. But she chose New Mexico, and she chose Deming! I know… I didn’t mean that to be…”
Now, after all of this, New Mexicans are fighting back against Lujan Grisham, not just at her re-election speech, but everywhere, including all her stops on the campaign trail. Protesters showed up at the Governor’s Friday event in Taos to protest.
At her very short reelection speech, the Governor said, “We’re going to do what we do best. We’re going to protect New Mexico, and no amount of noise will deter, intimidate or create a vacuum in leadership that makes a difference for every single New Mexican this day and every day. Can’t be done. Can’t be done.”
There was also another event scheduled at the Santa Claran in Española — an area of the state she bashed — but it was canceled due to “security concerns,” which means that despite Lujan Grisham’s comment that she will not be “intimidated,” she was.
Lujan Grisham’s spokeswoman Kendall Witmer said, “These protesters berated supporters with violent and racist language and stalked and intimidated press and event staff.” All of these statements are untrue, per photographs and videos taken at the reelection announcement venue.
Lujan Grisham faces a tough reelection campaign as strong Republican challengers have already emerged, including Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block and businesswoman Karen Bedonie.