Politics

In the heart of downtown Santa Fe, the sandstone obelisk that paid tribute to Kit Carson, a renowned 19th-century frontiersman and soldier, suffered partial destruction on Thursday night, marking the second such incident since 2020.

The initial incident took place almost three years ago during Columbus Day when protesters toppled the Soldiers’ Monument located at the Santa Fe Plaza. 

Standing at a height of 20 feet, the Kit Carson monument, adorned with the words “He Led the Way,” had been shielded by a plywood enclosure since 2020, a precautionary measure adopted to prevent a fate similar to that of the Soldiers’ Monument. However, on Thursday night, it was reported that the top portion of the monument situated in front of the U.S. District Courthouse was dismantled, presumably by an individual driving an older white GMC pickup truck, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Around 9:30 p.m., a New Mexican reporter witnessed the truck parked just inches away from the wooden barrier, with fragments of the monument strewn nearby and a cable linking the vehicle to the fallen obelisk.

Democrat Mayor Alan Webber released a statement, saying, “I’m outraged and I want those who did this to be caught and held accountable. Santa Fe Police are working with other law enforcement agencies to investigate this cowardly act. There is no place for this kind of criminal conduct in our community. We should all condemn it.” He previously advocated for the monument’s removal but hit roadblocks due to it being under federal jurisdiction.

The Santa Fe police received the initial call at 8:04 p.m., according to Sgt. Ryan Alire-Maez who noted that federal authorities would take charge of the case due to the courthouse’s federal jurisdiction.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the police continued their search for the suspect or suspects, who appeared to have fled on foot.

An anonymous individual disclosed that he stumbled upon the scene as the monument was being toppled and positioned his truck in front of the suspects’ vehicle, effectively trapping it.

By approximately 9:45 p.m., a small crowd of onlookers had gathered, and the police had cordoned off the streets near the fallen monument. Several law enforcement vehicles, primarily from the Santa Fe police force and one from the federal Department of Homeland Security, were on-site to manage the situation.

The Kit Carson monument had previously suffered acts of vandalism since the 2020 toppling of the Plaza obelisk, including graffiti painted on the sandstone structure and the protective enclosure. In the months leading up to the Indigenous Peoples Day protest, the monument was spray-painted with the words “Stolen Land in red letters near its base.

This latest act of vandalism coincided with the upcoming Fiesta de Santa Fe, an annual celebration of the peaceful Spanish reconquest of the city in 1692. Earlier in the week, the Santa Fe school board narrowly voted to allow the Fiesta Court to continue visiting public schools during school hours. Supporters regarded these visits as a celebration of heritage, while some extremist voices argued that such activities glorify colonialism.

Kit Carson died in Colorado in 1868 and was laid to rest in Taos. The monument dedicated to him was unveiled on Memorial Day in 1885, with approximately 5,000 attendees, including many who had served alongside Carson at the Battle of Valverde in Central New Mexico. On the day of dedication, the obelisk was revealed with a flourish, wrapped in an American flag, while an artillery battery from Fort Marcy fired a resounding salute, as noted by the esteemed New Mexico historian Marc Simmons.

Countless other instances of anti-Hispanic hate have plagued Santa Fe in recent years as extremist hate groups and their members have actively attacked monuments dedicated to Hispanics, such as one monument dedicated to Catholic priest Fray Angélico Chávez and the Cross of the Martyrs dedicated to those who lost their lives at the hands of blood-thirsty domestic terrorist Popé, who led the violent revolt, killing 400 Spaniards.

The cowardly domestic terrorists who toppled the Solders’ Monument were all let off scot-free by the local district attorney, being given a “restorative justice” slap on the wrist with no time in prison.