The following information was shared from a reliable source regarding Gallup Lockdown: As many of you have heard from various sources, based on a request from Mayor McKinney, the City of Gallup is being put on lockdown for three days. I wanted to share with you what the State has told us so far and what we can share at this time.
There will be several checkpoints/roadblocks staffed by the National Guard and State Police in and around the major street entrances to Gallup including the interstate beginning at noon today and in place until Monday May 4 at noon—unless it is extended. We are waiting to hear from the Governor’s Office regarding a press release, orders etc. We will get them out immediately
For city employees that are working or will be working this weekend and who live out of the city boundaries, please tell them to keep their city ID with them. The State has advised us they will be let in. However, I do recommend that you provide these employees with essential employee letters just as you did for the Navajo Nation and Zuni curfews. If you need a letter for yourself, let me know asap and Tasha will do for you.
The state is putting signs on roadways at 9 am advising that Gallup is locked down. Please do not be alarmed and continue city business. All city residents are free to travel within and out of the city but they will have to go through a checkpoint to get back in and show an ID or proof of city residence.
Please call me with any questions. I got this information late last night and the situation is unfolding so thank you for your patience and understanding. Please help me get this information out to your employees. END OF SHARED INFORMATION
5.1.20 PRESS RELEASE – NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT 0F TRANSPORTATION SUPPORTS LOCKDOWN & IDENTIFIES ROADBLOCK LOCATIONS
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Transportation has mobilized roadblocks to restrict traffic coming into Gallup in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the area. Gallup is located in McKinley County which now leads New Mexico in COVID-19 cases.
McKinley County includes a corner of the main part of the Navajo Nation, which has been hit hard by the pandemic. Gallup is a regional shopping destination, including for many reservation residents. The roadblocks are in place to restrict the influx of people coming into the city to shop.
The state transportation department has set up the following checkpoints at multiple points of entry into Gallup. State Police and the Army National Guard will be manning the checkpoints. Motorists should expect to stop at these locations. Signs will be posted at least a half mile out, warning drivers of checkpoints ahead.
· I-40 Exit 20 eastbound
· I-40 Exit 20 westbound
· I-40 Exit 22 eastbound
· I-40 Exit 22 westbound
· NM-118, milepost 25.7 westbound
· NM-118 eastbound at Hampton Inn
· NM-602 milepost 27.5 northbound
· US-491 southbound @ South Chino Loop
· Hassler Valley Road at the intersection north of I-40
· Rehoboth Drive and Churchrock Street
· Sanostee Drive @Sweetwater Place
THE FOLLOWING IS A 5.1.20 FACEBOOK POST FROM Klee Benally57 mins
URGENT: Join us in boosting Mckinley Mutual Aid:
www.facebook.com/mckinleymutualaid/
The city of so-called Gallup, New Mexico with the governor of NM has invoked the “Riot Control Act” closing all roads into the so-called “border town” of the Diné (Navajo) reservation. Among many impositions, the act effectively restricts access to many Diné on the Eastern part of Dinétah from accessing resources for supplies.
#indigenousmutualaid #solidaritynotcharity #mutualaid #solidarityandceremonynotcharity
5.1.20 NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL PRESS RELEASE – CITY OF GALLUP BEGINS THREE-DAY LOCKDOWN AT NOON MAY 1
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The New Mexico Governor’s Office issued an order to close the City of Gallup effective May 1, 2020 at 12:00 PM. The emergency order will expire Monday, May 4, 2020 at 12:00 PM.
“The Navajo Nation Council has supported curfew efforts and social distancing guidelines,” said 24th Navajo Nation Council Speaker Seth Damon. “We understand the need for this drastic measure and we thank Governor Grisham for issuing the lockdown of the City of Gallup.”
On a conference call today with the Office of the Speaker and the 24th Navajo Nation Council, the governor’s office discussed the details of the shut down. Governor’s staff said all roads into Gallup are to be closed and Gallup businesses will close from 5:00 PM through 8:00 AM.
“Regardless of what we do today, the number of cases will rise over the next two weeks,” said the governor’s office. Today’s action will have an impact three weeks out, which is the overall intent of issuing the order in the interest of protecting public health.
The Office of the Speaker began requesting the shut-down of border town retail operations on Mar. 30, 2020. Through a letter to Mayor McKinney, Speaker Damon stated, “This would be an unprecedented order, but the current outbreak is highly contagious to a degree that we cannot risk the danger the first of the month poses to such great numbers of elders.”
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the order after both former Gallup Mayor Jackie McKinney and current Mayor Louie Bonaguidi sent identical requests to the state.
The governor used the Riot Control Act and a state of emergency to prohibit any person from being on public streets, certain highways and other emergency restrictions. Failure to comply with restrictions will result in a misdemeanor. Repeated offenses will result in a fourth-degree felony.
The Navajo Nation issued a concurrent 57-hour lockdown this weekend, the fourth such nationwide curfew. Another Navajo Nation lockdown has been issued for next weekend, beginning May 8. The Navajo Nation curfews begin at 8:00 PM on Friday and end the following Monday at 5:00 AM.
The Navajo Nation Police Department will be patrolling Navajo Nation highways this weekend to enforce the Navajo Nation curfew.
“Vehicles may only have a maximum of two individuals. Residents of the city should remain at home except for emergency outings and those essential for health, safety and welfare,” stated the governor’s office.
Council delegates posed questions for specific cases to ensure Gallup is accessible by Navajo communities for emergency health care and medication services. Exits from Interstate 40 going into the City of Gallup will also be closed.
The governor’s office will be working with council delegates that have essential community needs that arise over the course of the closure. Those emergency needs will be communicated through council delegates to the Office of the Speaker and then to the governor’s office.
Council delegates noted that Navajo people will need a greater degree of support from the state and surrounding border town cities to combat the racial tensions that may arise from the order.
“We support this curfew, but people are already talking about accessing Gallup by backroads. How is this being implemented?” asked Council Delegate Mark Freeland. The governor’s office said all in-roads to the City of Gallup will be closed using city police, McKinley County sheriff’s department, state troopers, the Department of Transportation and the National Guard in a supportive role.
The State Task Force of the Naabik’íyáti’ Committee of the 24th Navajo Nation Council will hold a meeting with the Mayor Bonaguidi to assess the most effective approach towards possible continuation of the lockdown.
Additionally, several members of the 24th Navajo Nation Council will be introducing legislation over the next week to extend Navajo Nation weekend curfews to include weekdays. The legislation may also include expanded authorities to enforce the Navajo Nation lockdown.
The Navajo Nation Epidemiology Center reported 2,141 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation as of Apr. 30. This was an increase of 164 cases over the previous 24 hours. 71 COVID-19 related deaths reported.
The Navajo Nation government advises all Navajo citizens to keep a record of travel and contact to help facilitate tracing of confirmed COVID-19 cases within communities.
More information about the Navajo Nation’s COVID-19 response or to donate to the nation’s relief effort, please visit the website: https://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19.
