Black Lives Matter Protests, Primary Elections, and COVID-19 Updates

This week on New Mexico in Focus, host Gene Grant talks with Albuquerque’s Mayor Tim Keller and Chief Administrative Officer Sarita Nair about the recent vandalism and violence that occurred after peaceful Black Lives Matter protests, and why the city has decided not to issue a curfew and resisted calls to ask for help from the National Guard.

Correspondent Megan Kamerick talks with a protest organizer, an educator, and a city leader about the struggle of Black Lives Matter organizers to separate their message from broader anger and especially from violence. The group also discusses what successful systemic change looks like to the Black community.

Not long ago, the nation watched as Native Americans protested the Dakota Access Pipeline. As the country turns its eye toward the Black Lives Matter movement, correspondent Antonia Gonzales talks with three Native Americans about their perspectives on recent protests.

Correspondent Laura Paskus continues her conversations with journalists around the state and their coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. This week she talks with Geoffrey Plant. He’s a news reporter with the Silver City Daily Press.

New Mexico’s primary election saw a staggering number of absentee ballots and a strong overall turnout. Struggling to find election workers during the pandemic, some county clerks were overwhelmed and results delayed by days. Correspondent Gwyneth Doland talks with Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver about the vote count and lessons learned for November.

Gene Grant and The Line opinion panel analyze some of the notable wins and losses in the New Mexico Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian primaries held this week. The Line also looks at COVID-19 updates for this week.

Host: Gene Grant

In Focus Interviews:

Mayor Tim Keller on Albuquerque’s Response to Protests
Host/Correspondent: Gene Grant
Guests:
Tim Keller, Mayor of Albuquerque
Sarita Nair, Albuquerque Chief Administrative Officer

Protests
Correspondent: Megan Kamerick
Guests:
Keiran Freeman, organizer
Finnie Coleman, President, UNM Faculty Senate
Giovanna Burrell, Culture Change Leader, City of Albuquerque Office of Equity and Inclusion

Native Response to Black Lives Matter Protests
Correspondent: Antonia Gonzales
Guests:
Justin Huenemann, Notah Begay III Foundation
Christina Castro, Three Sisters Collective
Loren Anthony, actor/motivational speaker/weightlifter

Election Debrief
Correspondent: Gwyneth Doland
Guest:
Maggie Toulouse Oliver, New Mexico Secretary of State

COVID-19 in Silver City
Correspondent: Laura Paskus
Guest:
Geoffrey Plant, news reporter, Silver City Daily Press

Line Panelists:
Lonna Atkeson, UNM Political Science professor
Dan Foley, former state representative
Laura E. Sanchez, attorney