Dear Cibola Citizens, June 14th is Flag Day commemorating the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as our official flag. This year, it is also being called No King’s Day as many Americans are very concerned about the direction we see our country taking.
A local group of citizens have organized a gathering in front of City Hall on June 14 for a peaceful demonstration to unite with and support other concerned citizens in our community and across our beautiful America.
This local and nationwide event is for those who see our country’s leadership ignoring our constitutional laws, threatening our civil rights, and making a strong advancement toward tyrannical monarchy.
Anyone who shares our concern is welcome to join us June 14, at 10:00 am to noon, Grants City Hall Park sidewalk.
Save Our Democracy
Publicity- Jonnie Head, Christy Lochrie, Beth Head Members: Judith Andreica, Catharine Embrey, Joe Garcia, Mark Head, Leeann Jacoby, Sharon MacKendrick, Kate Manrodt, Beverly Michael, Carly Monnin, Nancy Mulvihill, Janet Prewett
Protect Continental Divide Trail Hikers
Dear Editor, It’s been hard to miss the many hikers and bicyclists coming through our town on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). As a volunteer “trail angel” for the CDT Coalition, I’ve been spending the last several weeks giving rides to and from trailheads for hikers, handing out cold drinks when they are on the road along with supplying water for caches along the trail. In my interactions with the hikers over this season, I’ve realized that our city can do a lot more to make our city more welcoming and accessible for the CDT hiker/cyclist community. How much money do they bring into our economy?
Many hikers have mentioned to me (and I’ve seen first hand) the state of the roads coming into town. Take a drive down McBride Rd, Hwy 117, or Santa Fe Ave near the bridge over to Walmart and you’ll see people walking close to huge trucks barreling down the road. Constructing wider shoulders in those areas and more walking and/or biking paths would mean that these tourists would be more likely to hang out longer or come back with their families on other trips.
I would hope that our local leaders would see this opportunity and act on it. It would not only help the tourism in our town but also the residents. I’ve seen people walking from Walmart, Subway, and other businesses down Santa Fe Ave who have to brave that bridge on their walks to the store or to go to work.
I implore the city to take action on this since hiking season along the CDT usually runs from April - October. I would love to be able to show off the wonderful improvements to the hikers next season.
Jenn Dixon CDT Volunteer
The Military Can Choose the People
Dear Editor, Every time a military holiday rolls around, I expect to hear a host of vague messaging about the military’s role in securing our country’s freedom, so I wasn’t surprised to see it in Cibola Citizen’s Memorial Day edition. However, I will take the opportunity to draw a more tangible connection between the actions of people in uniform and the liberties we value as civilians by extending my thanks to a brave, treasured few–those who have laid down their weapons rather than use them against their own people.
Historically, accounts such as these are not as well documented as they deserve to be because their weight is outcompeted by those that detail the tragedies of civilians killed, either accidentally or deliberately. Most notably, we know of German soldiers who refused to carry out orders of mass shooting against the people villainized by the Nazi government. Most recently, we hear of soldiers in Myanmar defecting to pro-democracy civilian organizations. There are stories of U.S. military personnel choosing solidarity with the people, too. Will we see them again?
Well, we’re not seeing them coming from the overzealous ICE agents kidnapping peaceful, noncitizen residents without arrest warrants. “I’m just doing my job,” they yell as they violently repress people exercising their right to free speech, some of them even reveling in the terror they induce. We’re not seeing them from the militarized police in riot gear who beat and pepper spray protestors sickened by the atrocities of the new fascist regime. The time will come when everyone must choose which side they’re on– the people or the repressors.
The decision will not spare anyone, including those in uniform. Law enforcement agencies nationwide, state to municipal, are being told to aid and abet the mass roundups of immigrants. The new regime has sold some of New Mexico’s public land to the Army so they may rain down a new kind of hell on migrants. In the coming months, we may see Trump deploying the U.S. military to Gaza to clear the victims of genocide, both dead and alive, so taxpayers can pay to make room for his beachside resort. Decisions about whether or not to comply are already here, and they will keep coming.
In these times, please remember those in positions of authority who made the sacrifice of standing out by speaking up against violence against the people.
Carly Monnin