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Self-defense? Graphic video emerges of man shooting protester in Albuquerque after being chased down

By Kris Di
Self-defense? Graphic video emerges of man shooting protester in Albuquerque after being chased down

Last Monday, a man in Albuquerque, New Mexico was shot after protesters tried to take down a bronze statue of a Spanish conquistador outside the Albuquerque museum.

Authorities have announced that the statue would be removed until the next steps are determined. The protester was later taken to a hospital and was in bad but stable condition, according to KRQE-TV.

A clashing between protesters and a group of armed men who were there to protect the statue of Juan de Oñate before protesters tied it with a chain and started pulling on it while shouting “tear it down.” One of them hit the base of the statue with a pickaxe numerous times.

A few moments after, four gunshots could be heard down the street and the crowd started yelling that someone had been shot. 

Witnesses told the publication that a militia member fired the shots, and that they waited for half an hour before police arrived on the spot. The militia group is called New Mexico Civil Guard, according to the outlet.

A spokesperson for Albuquerque named Gilbert Gallegos said officers used flash bangs and tear gas to protect police members and arrest militia members. He said their guns were taken and they were brought in for questioning as officers worked on securing the area. Later the department released a tweet saying that the FBI was lending them a hand in the investigation.

“The shooting tonight was a tragic, outrageous and unacceptable act of violence and it has no place in our city,” Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement. “Our diverse community will not be deterred by acts meant to divide or silence us. Our hearts go out the victim, his family and witnesses whose lives were needlessly threatened tonight. This sculpture has now become an urgent matter of public safety.”

Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico released a tweet saying that he urges the Justice Department to investigate the incident.

“This is not the first report of heavily armed civilian militias appearing at protests around New Mexico in recent weeks. These extremists cannot be allowed to silence peaceful protests or inflict violence,” Heinrich said.

12th-generation New Mexican Governor Michelle Grisham, made a tweet saying that she is  “horrified and disgusted beyond words by the reports of violence.”

“The heavily armed individuals who flaunted themselves at the protest, calling themselves a ‘civil guard,’ were there for one reason: to menace protesters, to present an unsanctioned show of unregulated force,” Grisham said. ” … Let me clear: There is absolutely no space in New Mexico for any violent would-be ‘militia’ seeking to terrorize New Mexicans.”

Keller, Heinrich, and Grisham are all members of the democratic party.

The incident took place only a few hours after protesters in northern New Mexico celebrated the taking down of another Oñate monument that was on display at a cultural center in Alcalde.

Authorities in Rio Arriba County said they took it down in order to keep it safe from potential damage and to avoid more violence ahead of the protest.

Oñate’s large bronze statue was removed by forklift from a pedestal made of concrete. Immediately, protesters began cheering the event.

Oñate, who made his way to the land in 1598 is known as a cultural father figure for people in the Upper Rio Grande that have Spanish ancestry.

However, he is disliked by many due to his mistreatment of Native Americans and others.

Unedited footage of the incident shows the incident as it happened in what appears to be a clear act of self-defense. The man in the video seems to be trying to escape the crowd but is violently attacked by a number of people, one of whom hits him over the head with a skateboard. The words: “We’re gonna f*cking kill you.” can also be heard in the clip.

WARNING!!! THE GRAPHIC VIDEO BELOW SHOWS THE SHOOTING AS IT HAPPENED!!! 

And below is the footage showing what lead to the pursuit. The man in blue is trying to pass by a female protester but she appears to be blocking his way. He then grabs her and hurls her to the ground.

What are your thoughts on the madness that is currently unfolding in the United States? Let us know by joining the conversation in the comments and please share this article if you’ve found it informative. 

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