Democracy Noir Film Premier - Get Your Tickets

The fear I felt after the Charlie Kirk assassination and the vitriolic aftermath had me in a deep thought experiment - and you can only imagine where I went with that. I rushed to our breakfast at the Barelas Coffee House and talked to some of you about it.  It was teary, I was scared and a bit lost.  Thanks to the ‘Breakfast Club’ I found my footing.  My fear was based on safety concerns at rallies and events. Making sure we organize safely has always been at the front of our minds.  We follow guidance from IndyNat (Indivisible National -  our word) and public safety professionals, but this seems like a new sphere.  I asked the Club ‘will you feel safe and still want to attend rallies and events given this violent climate?”  Resoundingly, the answer was ‘YES’.  So we carry on. Then, listening to the Utah Governor call for us to tone down the heated rhetoric, I decided to do a thing.


I wrote this letter to Amy Barela, the Chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico. I will let you know if I get a response (crickets so far). We are ready to be leaders and tone it down. We just want the truth. Lets see if there are more than just words from the other side.   I did this in your name, I hope you agree.


Subject:  An Interesting Opportunity for Unity


Ms Barela, 


I am a lifelong Democrat, peace-loving progressive and lead a very large activist group in Albuquerque.  We are one of the groups that hosts the big big rallies (15,000 or more) around town.  I am the former Treasurer for the Democratic Party of New Mexico.


In light of the Charlie Kirk killing I want to offer a New Mexico olive branch.  I abhor what happened to Mr Kirk, I decry it as does every member in our group. While I do not agree with many of the sentiments, his right to say them is the same as mine.  If you are willing, I would like to meet you and have a conversation about how we can restore civility in our state discourse that outshines every other state in the US.  I know we will have differing opinions, but I think we can have an adult conversation about issues that plague New Mexican families and look for common solutions from the Legislature.   


Putting social media aside, it seems leaders on both sides are calling for 'cooling off' in terms of the heated rhetoric we are hearing from both sides.  Instead of pointing fingers 'right or left', perhaps you and I can be leaders and stop it. 


When it comes down to the bottom line, I believe we ALL want many of the same things - 
-  good education for our kids 
-  crime free neighborhoods
-  people to have homes that are not on the street
-  places to worship, or not as designed by the constitution 
-  equal rights for all persons. 

While HOW we achieve this may be different, WHAT we need to achieve may be the same -  and may offer a good place to start a conversation. 


Let me know if you are interested in this offer and we will select a neutral location for a meeting.  I offer nothing but a way to a peaceful revolution that might catch fire. 


Rayellen Smith
President, Indivisible Albuquerque