Protesters in Santa Fe Say No Uranium Mining

Offices of the New Mexico Mining Association were the first stop for activists protesting plans to resume uranium mining in New Mexico.

Report, photos and audio by ERIC SHULTZ

Albuquerque and Santa Fe activists joined an inter-tribal delegation to protest the planned resumption of uranium mining in New Mexico. With organizing help from (Un)occupy Albuquerque, the June 25 action began at the New Mexico Mining Association offices, then moved to the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division where the contingent confronted division director Fernando Martinez in a polite but insistent impromptu dialogue. Moving on to the offices of the Uranium Producers of America, the protesters found the occupants had moved out (not in search of larger premises, we hope). Ending up at the Santa Fe plaza, the activists took part in a call to free imprisoned AIM activist Leonard Peltier and an Idle No More-led round dance around the town’s monument to the Indian Wars. Click on the links between the pictures below to hear the words of participants in these events.

Protesters in front of the NMMA offices.

Anti-nuclear activist Wind Euler addresses the protesters at the NMMA.

Click to Hear Wind Euler’s Words at Protest of NMMA

Supai Waters, Keeper of Secrets of the Havsupai tribe, denounces the NMMA.

Click to hear Supai Waters’ words to the NMMA

New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division director Fernando Martinez in dialogue with the anti-uranium delegation.

Filling the hallway of the Mining and Minerals Division offices, protestors insist the agency deny the permit for the Roca Honda uranium mine on Mount Taylor, at least until cleanup is complete at all other New Mexico uranium mines.

Click to hear the activists’s dialogue with Mining and Minerals Division director Fernando Martinez

Diné activist Kooper reads a letter from prison from Leonard Peltier.

Click to hear Peter read the Oglala Sioux proclamation declaring Leonard Peltier Day, followed by Kooper reading Peltier’s letter from prison

Visiting from Oklahoma, Idle No More activist Hatuk Hill (Choctaw Tribe) led the round dance on the Santa Fe plaza.

Click to hear Hatuk Hill on Indigenous identity, solidarity and Idle No More

As part of La Jicarita‘s ongoing coverage of anti-uranium activism, look for our upcoming post on the Havasupai tribe’s struggle to stop uranium mining at Grand Canyon and the basis for regional solidarity.