Words are violence. That’s the mantra politicians spew when they step on their own tongues criticizing their constituents.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham did just that when she referred to protesters at her June 03, 2021 re-election announcement as “Qanon lizard people.”

Asked in a KOB interview June 21, 2021, Lujan Grisham blamed global political vitriol.

“I think all of us — private sector, the media, government officials elected — we have to find a way for this tribal political environment that is sweeping around the globe…it’s not just the United States, but it’s found its way into a state that I would say is one of the most diverse but friendliest states and open-minded states…and, you know, what happened for our re-election announcement was painful in a couple of ways. 

“One, it showed me up close and personal, not just in a Facebook feed, or a media presentation, the anger and vitriol, and that it was aimed at everyone, wasn’t even aimed just directly at me. It was everyone. I mean, he attacked members of the press.” 

— KOB June 21, 2021 (emphasis added)

Other than Megan Abundis of KOB tweeting that she was “verbally attacked,” there’s no evidence of actual violence.

Asked if she regretting calling her constituents “lizard people,” Lujan Grisham said she didn’t:

“I don’t because I didn’t say it in a mean way. We know that that’s happened in campaigns. The tension in that moment when I came on stage was really ugly. And I wanted to make a light-hearted moment about a conspiracy theorist. I didn’t call a person a name. I didn’t call the protesters a name. I said, you know, this might have been the same time as a meeting of QAnon conspiracists.

Nobody got arrested. We didn’t create more conflict, and I ended it, which is the responsible thing to do.”

New Mexico has its share of crazies, and no doubt some showed up to protest the governor’s re-election announcement. But there’s a simple way to fact-check claims that someone was attacked: quote the governor.

“Nobody got arrested.”

Unlike the drone-driving dildo-wielder at Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales’ protest, who actually hit the Albuquerque mayoral candidate in the face, nobody was arrested at Lujan Grisham’s event.

The reason for that is simple: the Constitution protects “verbal attacks,” because as the old adage goes, sticks and stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. 

New rule: if you’re going to protest, whether you’re burning down police departments or looting stores, don’t do it in a mean way.