New Mexicans holding statewide #UnMaskNMKids protests, ‘LiZARD’ protest at Capitol Saturday
On Saturday, New Mexicans will gather in cities across the state to protest embattled Gov. Lujan Grisham’s continued school mask mandate in schools, forcing young children to sit for hours in classrooms and at playgrounds while fully masked.
According to a press release from the organizers, the New Mexico Freedoms Alliance, “Although over half the states in the USA have no school mask mandate, NM school children are still being forced to wear masks, even when playing outdoor sports in 100+ degree heat.” The group contends that unmasking athletes who have had the virus jab is not enough, and that “ALL students must be allowed to unmask, regardless of their vaccination status.”
“Parents, it is up to us to free our kids from MLG’s sports and school mask mandates. Our Governor knows how damaging masks are to our kids but continues her own agenda vs. protecting them. No one is going to step in and save our kids. It’s up to us. This stops when we stop allowing it to happen. This protest is our chance to expose her abuse,” said Artesia organizer Stacey Turner of Concerned Citizens for Artesia.
Las Cruces organizer Piper Gibson said, “Wake up New Mexico! It’s time to unmask our kids and ourselves!! The rest of the US is open; people are mask-free and there is no social distancing. Here we are still forcing our kids to wear masks, even outdoors in 100-degree heat. Kids in NM are not at risk and according to studies most of us have antibodies from previous infections. It’s time to cut out the nonsense!”
Here’s a list of all the NM localities holding these anti-masking of children rallies. All protests begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2021, although the Raton rally will begin at 11:00 a.m.
- ARTESIA – @ corner of Main & 7th @ 10am
- LAS CRUCES – @ Albert Johnson Park on corner of main and Picacho
- CARLSBAD – @ Carlsbad Waterpark; area between Water park and gazebo
- ROSWELL @ Courthouse 4th and Main in Roswell
- FARMINGTON – Animas Valley Mall Lawn near Applebee’s
- ALBUQUERQUE – Target/Lowes on Paseo Del Norte and San Pedro
- SILVER CITY – @ Gough Park 1200 N Pope Street
- DEMING – @ DPS Emmett Shockley Building, 400 Cody Road
- RATON – @ Corner of 2nd and Tiger drive
- RIO RANCHO- @ Southern & 528
Another protest is happening on Saturday at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, which is both a combination between an anti-masking of children protest and a protest against Gov. Lujan Grisham’s name-calling of New Mexicans as “QAnon lizard people.”
A press release from Leanna Derrick of Call to Action New Mexico reads, “We are publicly assembling as LiZARD People to stand united against illegal monetary incentives, discrimination, and masking our kids in schools and sport activities. WE have a Constitutional Right to Peacefully Assemble without reprisal by the government.”
New Mexicans are meeting for a caravan at 10:00 a.m. from the Bernalillo/Placitas Exit US and I-25 exit going to Santa Fe.
At 11:00 a.m., cars are set to meet at the Capitol for the pre-event at 11:30 a.m, and the gathering begins at 12:00 noon. At 1:00 p.m., there is set to be a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the singing of the National Anthem, and then the main protest event with speakers.