Men With Rifles
Robert Whitmon of the American Patriots of New Mexico, one such group, says they’ve been working with police for years. Regardless of their claims of support for protesters, demonstrators say they raise tension and anxiety, and they’re already concerned about state-sanctioned violence and the possibility of retribution for speaking out.
We hear from Andres Valdez, Selinda Guererro and Amelia Brown. They are among the protesters and organizers of last week’s demonstrations who shared their impressions of the men carrying rifles that showed up to watch protests.
Bryce Provance, a chaplain formerly associated with the New Mexico Civil Guard, spoke to KUNM’s Hannah Colton in an interview after the group’s patrolling of a June 1 demonstration startled protesters. He said the militia does not have a racial bias. He resigned his position with the group within an hour after the interview was conducted. [Here is Colton’s original story.]
Arthur Bell, an Albuquerque Black Lives Matter organizer, tells us about the New Mexico Civil Guard’s attendance at demonstrations over the last couple weeks.
Gilbert Gallegos, spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department, says APD doesn’t condone officers working with the militia groups at protests.
Melanie Yazzie from The Red Nation talks about harassment from the New Mexico Civil Guard.
Of course the local PD doesn’t “work with” the local militia, because they don’t understand the purpose of the second amendment and if they did they wouldn’t believe in it.
Contrast that with the ugly goings-on in Seattle.
They’re opposed to YOUR firearms
— Bill (@AngryRetailDale) June 9, 2020
You see, the local authorities are just fine with people conducting self defense and defense of others, as long as the ones being protected and doing the protection are intent on tearing down the cultural history of America.

