The Shocking Case of Political Violence: New Mexico Man Accepts Plea Deal for Shooting Native American Activist at Statue Protest
By Andrew Hay
In a shocking turn of events, a New Mexico man has accepted a plea deal in the 2023 shooting of a Native American activist protesting a conquistador statue, lawyers revealed on Monday. This case sheds light on the increasing political violence in the United States.
Ryan Martinez pleaded no contest to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault for shooting activist Jacob Johns and pointing his handgun at another demonstrator, Malaya Peixinho. His lawyer, Nicole Moss, stated that Martinez claimed self-defense and will serve four years in state prison, possibly less with good behavior, followed by 5 years probation.
The shooting was labeled as a racially motivated hate crime by Mariel Nanasi, representing Johns and Peixinho, who accused Martinez of being a "MAGA proud gun toting crazed man." Martinez was wearing a red cap with the Donald Trump slogan "Make America Great Again" at the protest where the incident occurred.
Johns, a global climate activist and artist, was shot while trying to prevent Martinez from entering a vigil opposing the reinstallation of a statue of a 16th century Spanish colonial ruler, Juan de Onate. The bronze statue had been removed in 2020 during anti-racism protests and was set to be reinstated at a county complex in Espanola, New Mexico.
The plea deal offered to Martinez by New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack Altwies has sparked controversy, with Peixinho calling it inadequately lenient. However, she expressed a desire for conflict resolution in a statement.
The violence surrounding Onate statues has been ongoing since the 1990s, with Native Americans protesting the glorification of a figure known for brutal colonization. While some descendants of Spanish colonial settlers view Onate as part of New Mexico's Hispanic heritage, others denounce his actions, including the 1599 massacre of a Pueblo tribe.
Overall, this case serves as a reminder of the deep-rooted tensions and conflicts surrounding historical statues and symbols in the United States. It also highlights the ongoing struggle against racial injustice and the need for peaceful resolution of disputes in our communities.