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Juneteenth needs to be celebrated
I was so excited last year when it was declared that June 19 became a federal holiday officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day. But all remained quiet here in Rio Rancho, N.M. I didn’t see announcements from our mayor or any other city officials. There didn’t appear to be anything going on at our […]
Why run for mayor?
On Sept. 12, 2021 at Haynes Park in Rio Rancho, N.M., dressed in a black suit and pink top, I stood before a humble audience and announced that I was running to be the next mayor. The task had secretly been on my mind for months. The seed had been planted ever since Aug. 15, […]
Abdul Amiry, thank you
I have to say to you my brother, Abdul Amiry — and to all of the Afghans who are trying to find a new life in Las Cruces, N.M. — thank you. As a combat veteran who served there, I want to take the time to thank you for your service. I want to take […]
Embracing all the bad and the good of U.S. history is how we move forward
The Public Education Department held a virtual meeting so that the public could state their support or opposition for the proposed changes in our social studies curriculum for the state of New Mexico last week. I sat in on the Zoom meeting to offer my opinion and listen to all the feedback provided. And I […]
What was it all for?
I can still taste the sand, feel the heat on my skin. We were told to smell our water before we drank it, just in case something had been added to it. I remember the faces, including my own, when one of our brothers or sisters in arms lost their lives. I remember the look […]
Black Lives Still Matter
Every time a Black person is murdered, I am keenly aware that it could have been me, my son or any of my family members. On Aug. 30, 2019, Elijah Jovan McClain’s life was cut short at the young age of 23 after an encounter with the Aurora Police Department in Colorado. The Aurora Police […]
Time to shut the schools back down
School is back in session, with a lot of our districts going back to in-person learning. This is a good move for children to foster their social interaction. But at the same time, the question of wearing masks has been a heavy topic of discussion. In public schools across New Mexico, masks are required for […]