According to Governor Susana Martinez’s staff, District Judge James Hall’s court ordered New Mexico House of Representatives redistricting plan is a victory for the Free World, Granma’s apple pie, and Twinkie’s. For the native Hispanic communities of southeastern New Mexico it is a nightmare in the awake stage, a return to Jim Crow 21 Century style, and where again Hispanics should be seen but not heard.
Shame on Judge Hall for erasing a half century civil and human rights battle that our Hispano people so valiantly fought to eliminate discrimination in voting and hiring, in equal access to public facilities, and in the instilling of human dignity by outlawing those demeaning and inhumane “No Niggers, Dogs, or Mexicans Allowed” placards at our places of business.
Judge Hall’s court ordered House plan gives Republicans a 40% land base in a reconsolidated SE New Mexico, eastern Dona Ana, and Valencia County where native Hispano Democrats will have an extremely impossible time of winning. But keep in mind that Judge Hall created “competitive districts.” “Competitive districts” is a politically charged term for diffusing and eliminating Democratic Hispano voting strength.
But a Democratic Judge wouldn’t do that. Would he? Hey! Even Jesus Christ soiled his undies every now and then.
Our vetoed House plan was not perfect by any means, but at least it meet all the constitutional requirements of the Voting Rights Act protection of ethnic and language minorities, communities of interest, and the one person one vote principle. Judge Hall trashed the constitution for an evil empire “competitive district” House plan conjured up by our beloved Governor Susana Martinez
It does not seem judicious for a Judge to accept a plaintiff’s plan that was not publically vetted or that never saw the political light of day, for the better or the worse. As we say in Spanish, "Fuimos de Guatemala a Guatepeor."
There are good constitutional grounds on which to challenge the "Guatepeor" court ordered House plan of Judge Hall. For one he totally obliterated the federally constituted Hispano majority District 63 seat. This Hispano majority seat was created to give Chicano & Afro American communities in southwest Clovis, and the Chicano community of north Portales a fighting chance of electing one of their own.
Why? Because of southeastern New Mexico’s history of blatant discrimination, segregation, cultural strangulation, and human and civil rights violations of minorities.
Under the Judge Hall decision southwest Clovis and north Portales were gerrymandered into three separate districts then remodified into one district with a 56% Republican performance and a token 50% Hispano adult population.
The other federally constituted Hispano district in SE New Mexico, District 58 in south Roswell and, south Chavez County, didn't fare any better—53% Republican performance, 62% Hispano adult population. Sayonara Raza! Try again in 2021 is what Judge Hall is telling Democratic Hispanics in southeast New Mexico.
Judge Hall failed miserably on being equitable to the Hispano federally constituted seats in south eastern New Mexico. The U.S. Department of Justice should have never relinquished signing off on our redistricting plans for the legislature. The Hall decision is a wakeup call for making federal oversight a much needed standard in our state
Where's El Aquila Negra, The Cisco Kid, and The Lone Ranger & Tonto when we need them. For sure they were not in Judge Hall's court room.
Su Mas Atento Servidor,
State Representative Miguel P Garcia, (D) Los Ranchos de Atrisco
505 877-8131
1118 La Font Rd Sw
Albuquerque, NM 87105
