On Monday, Rio Arriba County crews began taking down a statue of conquistador Don Juan de Oñate in Alcalde. According to the Rio Grande Sun, “Organizers and community members still plan to hold a demonstration for its removal today at 4 p.m. at the County’s Oñate Monument Resource and Visitors’ Center in Alcalde.” Previously in 1998, the bronze statue of Oñate was vandalized, with a radical group cutting off its right foot to supposedly “make a statement about Oñate’s treatment of Pueblo people.”
The move to take down the statue comes one day after an Albuquerque Oñate statue was vandalized with the words “racist murderer” spray pained on the figure, while another Oñate statue was vandalized at the El Paso International Airport. Radical leftists have been seizing on the reignited race war due to the death of a Minnesota man, George Floyd, to force through militant protests and tear down monuments across the country that they see as “offensive.”
Now, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is embracing the toppling of the Alcalde statue, writing on Twitter, “New Mexico’s multiculturalism is its strength. Understanding our complicated history – and acknowledging the imbalanced power structures within it – is a process, and this is a step in the right direction.”
Oñate has been criticized for retaliating against Acoma Pueblo soldiers in 1598 after they killed 12 of his men, cutting off the right foot of 24 surviving men. The Spanish government, however, took decisive action to discipline Oñate’s cruel tactics and “tried Oñate as a war criminal and permanently banished him from New Mexico.”
But one divisive New Mexico figure still remains standing — and in the U.S. Congress of all places — a figure of the blood-thirsty tyrant known as Po’pay, who is responsible for hundreds of murders and bloodshed upon the Spanish people. The statue was erected in 2005 by New Mexico’s congressional delegation.
On August 15, 1680, Po’pay led the Pueblo Revolt, killing at least 400 Spaniards, including 21 of the 33 Catholic priests in New Mexico. He stomped on Christianity, claiming, “The God of the Christians is dead,” and saying, “He was made of rotten wood.”
But instead of punishing Po’pay like they are with Oñate, New Mexico leaders are praising the violent tyrant. In a now-deleted Facebook post, then-Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham described Po’pay in a much nicer light, saying the warlord was a “religious leader who led the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 in response to Spanish policies of forced labor and religious [persecution.]”
We have now come to a point in history, where oppression is picked and chosen based upon skin color and nothing more. While actual oppressors such as Po’pay are honored with 12-foot marble statues in the halls of the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C., other statues are being cherry-picked to rip down, such as that of Don Juan De Oñate. Will the Governor retract her previous statements rejoicing Po’pay’s brutal Pueblo Revolt and demand his statue be ripped down as well? Most likely not.
Evil demon wich. Tear down obamas statue and the satanic statue
This argument is ridiculous!! Christianity has NO CLAIM to America or the First Nations peoples. Christianity was the oppressor and Po’Pay was the LIBERATOR!!!! If you can not see that, you are part of the problem. Keep sticking your head in White Sands!!
Does the K stand for Karen?
Hey KW have you heard of our Lady of Guadalupe? Who appeared to native people in visions and taught them to not sacrifice children anymore? You ever seen the piles of skulls left behind in all the horrible human sacrifice committed?
Christianity very much is a part of America. You, on the other hand, are not. You belong in China with the rest of the filthy maoists.
Gov gruesome is stirring up trouble as are the idiots at UNM who despite traveling on cesar chavez every day, disgrace his memory and know nothing about his fight against open borders destroying the people here.
We must vote these evil people out who hate america , our constitutional republic and are already committing insurrection against the people and violated their oaths. This is just the beginning of their evil plans to destroy everyone. They are following the same blueprint Mao did. All the people who sent their children to public school are making the mistake they did. You have allowed your children to be immersed in lies and hate, and now our revolution is underway.
The good people of NM get along very well, and gruesome is trying to start a race war and turn everyone against each other.
KW –
You misspelled “CONQUERED”
Here in Tucson we have a statue of Pancho Villa downtown praising a murdering , thug that for some reason some people worship..Not only did he kill white people ,but he killed hundreds of Mexicans and Indians as well.
This sculpture is not a matter of public safety the public is a matter of its own public safety! This statue is a symbol of Colonization in NM and adoption of Christianity to our Hispanic culture. This is where our brotherhoods, moradas, retablos, Spanish culture and practices were formed which gave rise to underground Catholicism. To many Onate serves as a historical and cultural significance. The great Pueblo revolt gave rise to the reconquest of New Mexico and the reformation to Catholicism! 400 years of history and lots of struggle and accomplishments but yes, ultimately a sad history for New Mexico. Eventually the Spanish and the natives agreed to peacefully coexist. The Spanish culture realized it’s many failings, cruelty, mistreatment, and lack of respect for the Native community. The Spanish’s lack of regard and failing has lead to forgiveness and reconciliation. Despite the failings of our people there had been good adoption of both cultures in New Mexico. Indian culture is highly regarded today in New Mexico. Diversity creates strength amongst cultures! History can teach the truth even if it’s ugly. The inclusion of history is what changes lives. Let’s look at the total picture! Culture is deeply rooted in NM. Has anyone stopped to think about what this statue actually means to the Hispanic culture and the reconciliation that took place upon both cultures? The statue should remain as a symbol of NM colonization, culture, and reconciliation amongst cultures! There is no longer war amongst our people.