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Resolution in Support of the Save Our Kneeling Nun Campaign

WHEREAS, 84 years ago, the founders of the League of Latin American Citizens, (LULAC) joined together to establish an organization that would become the largest, oldest and successful Hispanic civil rights and service organization in the United States, and

WHEREAS, the people of Grant County and advocates from all over the state of New Mexico and especially the miners and their families who have toiled and lived in the area, in addition to most others with a stake in the local economy and the quality of life enhanced by the renowned tourist attraction, dubbed the Kneeling Nun, have a unique special regard for the beauty of the monolith and a respect for its spiritual significance, and

WHEREAS, a deliberate obstruction of the panoramic view of that area from as far away as Silver City, will rob New Mexico not only from a tourist attraction but, more importantly, from a cultural and historical treasure, and

WHEREAS, the landmark also known as “El Cerro de la Abuja” was enshrined in the history of New Mexico dating back to 1779, when the Santa Rita del Cobre Mine was founded by the Spaniards, and it has become a symbol of that past and present, and

WHEREAS, Save Our Kneeling Nun advocates are alarmed at how high the dumping of leaching material has risen, threatening to block the majestic view of the mountain, and as such action to stop this activity is imperative, and

WHEREAS, the historical town of Santa Rita, once the hub of the Grant County mining community, was itself unconsciously wiped out by a Freeport McMoran predecessor with nary a whimper from the victims driven out of their homes and a complete absence of advocates, and

WHEREAS, Freeport McMoran Mining Co. was awarded recognition for its exemplary stewardship of lands and environment in 2012, according to the New Mexico Energy Mineral and Natural Resource Department’s annual report, and

WHEREAS, the US Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) calls for reclamation of tailings sites like the one in question,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that LULAC DISTRICT III of the New Mexico League of Latin American Citizens wholeheartedly supports the SAVE OUR KNEELING NUN campaign to attain their goal and implore Freeport McMoran Mining Co. management to cooperate in the endeavo

Approved this 22nd day of June 2013.

Margaret Moran
LULAC National President