My first story- a follow up on the shooting on Sept 28th. A statement from Jacob Johns
A Call for Justice and UnityAfter Terrorist Attack
On Thursday, September 28, 2023, a harrowing and raciallymotivated incident occurred while members of the united states climateaction network, members of local Tewa tribes, various Pueblos,Indigenous and Hispano community at large and Española/Rio ArribaCounty citizens came together for a spiritual convening/ceremony tocontinue to pray for a favorable resolution against the reinstallationof the Don de Oñate monument in front of the Rio Arriba CountyOffices. Invoking prayers from the future to weave a bond ofspiritual unity, Jacob Johns (Akimel O’otham and Hopi) a communitysupported organizer and member of USCAN was not just a participant, hewas invited to deepen his spiritual involvement by partaking in anovernight prayer vigil on Wednesday evening, prior to a largergathering the next morning. This vigil, which had begun on Tuesday,September 26th, culminated in a sunrise prayer ceremony on Thursdaymorning, heralding a new dawn of hope and unity. Throughout, Jacobstood in harmony with new relations of similar convictions, prayingand singing with Indigenous matriarchs, elders, children, andallies/accomplices, nurturing a collective vision and shareddreams.
Prayer video 1
For generations, Pueblo people have experienced harm, loss,and systemic discrimination at the hands of Spanish, American andequally insidious nuclear colonialism, even as they've heldsteadfastly to the original instructions bestowed upon them at thebeginning of this world. The deliberate act of violence last week,targeting a tranquil prayer camp at the planned location for thereinstallation of the Oñate statue, taken down by Rio Arriba County in2020 is yet another painful reminder of the myriad injustices rootedin our collective Indigenous history. This tragic event underscoresthe long saga of dehumanizing systems and divisive ideologies that thePueblo community, following their ancient instructions, havecontinually rallied against and resisted. The Pueblo people of NewMexico are credited with the only successful uprising against colonialoccupation/power in the Americas, the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. We havelong fought for our humanity in our own homelands.
I want to emphasize the importance of focusing on a narrativeof unity rather than division. It's vital to give prominence to theexperiences and perspectives of everyone present during the spiritualgathering and those affected by the pervasive culture of violence. Therepercussions, both physical and emotional, that Jacob has enduredwill last a lifetime. However, Jacob isn't the sole victim. While hebore the physical wounds, the broader community, including women,children, and elders present that day, experienced and continue toexperience deep emotional distress. Their stories deserve to beheard.
It is essential to underscore that this wasn't merely a“protest” or simple altercation. Myself, members of local Pueblos,Native New Mexicans and the larger community were deeply engrossed ina peaceful gathering when we were ambushed in what could havepotentially been a mass murder. After I was shot point-blank in thechest, the refrain 'I can't breathe” echoed once again, this time inNew Mexico, capturing the anguish many felt during the uprising acrossthe country in 2020. The subsequent malfunction of the shooter'sweapon miraculously spared the lives of others, including lifelong RioArriba resident, Malaya Peixinho. This is the power of our prayers atwork. Yet, the startling fact remains, this heinous act of violencecould have easily been prevented. By the police who let this agitatorwho had more weapons in his car back past the safety line and let himengage once again with the prayer circle and then left.
While police were present earlier in the day and hadpreviously attempted to escort the shooter away for disruptivebehavior, they later permitted the shooter to return citing his “civilliberties” and then vacated the premises, abandoning our peacefuldemonstration despite the clear threat to our safety. LaVerne McGrath,my mother, asks that this tragedy lead to a re-orientation of the roleof police, from one in which threats to Black, Indigenous and Peopleof color are downplayed and intervention only occurs once thosethreats become violence, to one that upholds peace andsafety.
The shooter made the point to introduce himself to members ofthe media, requesting that he be photographed and filmed. Thiscoverage proves the notoriety he sought and further exacerbates theharm he has perpetrated on myself and loved ones, the communityimpacted, and all Black, Indigenous and People of Color for whomracial violence creates ongoing trauma.
Though the perpetrator remains in jail as of today, our workmust continue to ensure that he accounts for his crimes through ourlegal system. The state of New Mexico has an opportunity to send astrong message that violence targeting BIPOC people, the majority inthis state, will not go without firm consequence. The state of NewMexico has a chance to ensure the safety of all residents’ right tocelebrate, pray, mobilize for their well being and mourn by supportingsystemic change that centers community safety andwell-being.
For countless generations, Indigenous Peoples have beensubjected to harm, death, and systemic oppression. The premeditatedshooting last week is another marker of the systemic injustices inPueblo and Indigenous history. The violence was targeted at a peacefulprayer camp situated at the proposed site for the reinstallation ofthe Oñate statue. It highlights the long history of injustices againstIndigenous Peoples by dehumanizing systems and divisive ideologiesthat the community had gathered to spiritually count.
PRAYER VIDEO 2
This incident should not be misconstrued as a clash betweenprotestors. Indigenous community members were engaged in a peacefuland spiritual gathering when they were ambushed in what could havebeen a mass murder.
Despite the police being present earlier and intervening dueto the shooter's disruptive actions, their decision to let him returnlater compromised the security of the peaceful assembly. Thisunfortunate incident should not only prompt law enforcement toreexamine and redefine their approach to such events in the future butalso act as a catalyst for redefining police roles to protect ourcommunities.. The emphasis should shift towards proactively addressingthreats to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, prioritizing theirpeace and safety above all.
In the swirling nexus of time and intention, we stand as theessential links between the present and an envisioned tomorrow. Asintermediaries, our role is not just to relay the messages of todaybut also to channel the potent prayers from a future waiting tomanifest. These aren’t simply ephemeral hopes but intentional summonsthat rise from the collective heartbeat of a world aspiring forhealth, justice, and sustainability.
This is a crucial moment, one where we can bear witness tothe profound miracles of collective will and faith. When so manyjoined hands, hearts, and spirits in prayer for me, they crafted aluminous space, a sanctuary for my consciousness to evolve, to heal,and ultimately, to rejoin the shared tapestry of our existence. Amidthe roaring blades of a helicopter, I crossed the fragile line betweenlife and death multiple times. But in that otherworldly realm, thewisdom of our ancestors rekindled the reasons for my return, thesignificance of this journey we know as life. They bestowed upon meclearly defined paths, blueprints for navigating the future we sodesperately seek.
Incremental steps, though significant, are no longer enough.They can feel like mere ripples against the vast tide of challenges weface. Thus, we must be more: we must embody the envisioned future — afuture radiant with justice, harmony, and vibrancy.
The canvas of tomorrow, though unwritten, pulses with thepotential of our shared dreams. Every intentional thought, everyaffirmative prayer, casts ripples into this vast expanse, crafting theworld we yearn for. It's like tuning into a celestial song,harmonizing our aspirations with the rhythms of theuniverse.
Together, bound by shared purpose and unwavering belief, wehave the power to co-create our world. Channeling these prayers fromthe future, they not only guide us but also remind us of the sanctityof our journey. Though the future is unwritten, with every combinedprayerful intention, we inscribe our deepest desires onto itsever-evolving narrative, forging a destiny filled with miracles andhope.
Within the intricate dance of time and intent, we findourselves as pivotal connectors between today's realities and a visionfor tomorrow. As guardians of this temporal bridge, we don’t merelypass on current messages but also channel profound prayers from afuture yet to be realized. These aren't fleeting wishes but deliberatecalls emerging from the collective soul of a world longing forwellness, fairness, and continuity.
This pivotal juncture invites us to witness firsthand themiracles born of collective hope and faith. As numerous souls unitedin prayer for my well-being, they wove together a radiant haven wheremy consciousness found space to heal, evolve, and re-immerse into ourcommunal journey. Even amidst the thundering resonance of helicopterblades, I teetered on the delicate threshold of life and the beyond.Yet, in that transcendent space, ancestral wisdom illuminated my pathback, underscoring the profoundness of our shared earthly journey.They imparted to me a crystalline roadmap for traversing the desiredfuture that beckons us.
While incremental progress holds its value, it can often seemdwarfed in the face of the immense challenges before us. Therefore,our call is to transcend and truly become embodiments of the luminousfuture we envision — a horizon aglow with justice, unity, andlife.
The tapestry of the morrow, still in its weaving stages,resonates with the dreams we hold close. Each purpose-driven thoughtand heartfelt prayer sends waves through this vast continuum, shapingthe world we ardently hope for. It's akin to aligning with a cosmicsymphony, our dreams resonating in harmony with the universe's granddesign.
United by a common vision and unshakeable faith, we harnessthe capacity to sculpt our shared destiny. As we draw forth thesefuture-focused prayers, they serve as both beacons and reminders ofour sacred journey's essence. We must remember that the future isunwritten and it is us who decides our fate.