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The easiest, clearest directions to the protest rally site are available on Google maps; simply type in Avenida Delicias, Santa Teresa, NM in the search field, & you will be guided to the protest rally site.
If you are old-school “analog” & you prefer maps & wordy guidance, you can follow these more detailed directions:
From the west: Take US Rt 180 East out of Silver City toward Deming. Proceed south through Deming & on the south side of town pick up NM Rt 11 South toward the NM-Mexico border. You will pass an immigration checkpoint a little north of Columbus, NM. When you reach Columbus, keep an eye out for a left turn onto NM Rt 9 East. (You will see a museum and a caboose at this key intersection.)
Take NM Rt 9 East toward Santa Teresa—a long drive (60 miles) across the desert where you will frequently see the Border Wall on your right (to the south). Be on the lookout for “wide loads,” like wind-turbine propellers, coming towards you at remarkably high speeds. Shortly after you pass the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station on your right, NM 9 will “T” into NM Rt 136, also known as “Pete Domenici Boulevard.” Make a right onto NM Rt 136, and about a mile later, look for a green exit sign that reads “All Commercial Trucks.” Even if you’re driving a car, you should take this exit, which will lead you into an industrial/warehouse park.
(Interestingly, this commercial-truck road is also labeled “Pete Domenici Blvd” on Google Maps.) There are a few ways to arrive at the protest rally site; the following is most clearly marked: Make your first right onto St. Francis Drive, proceed past Av Asension (which was unsigned when I visited on June 28), then make a left onto Avenida Casas Grandes. Both Asension and Casas Grandes will intersect with Avenida Delicias, which is the public street upon which we will be holding our rally. Make a left turn onto Ave Delicias and avoid parking on Avenida Casas Grandes. Ave Delicias is a 40-foot-wide paved street that provides ample parking spaces along the curb. Park with extra care, so that law-enforcement officers have no reason to complain about our orderly rally. We will place cones or flagging by the two fire hydrants so that activists park 15 feet away from them.
If you’re driving from points north, follow NM 136 south past its intersection with NM Rt 9, then follow directions highlighted in yellow above.
This probably goes without saying, but--leave your hometown with a full tank of gas, because there are no services along NM Rt 9 between Columbus & Santa Teresa.
Since our rally will take place on a public street, we are posting this statement from the American Civil Liberties Union website, “I’m organizing a protest”:
Your rights
Your rights are strongest in what are known as “traditional public forums,” such as streets, sidewalks, and parks. You also likely have the right to speak out on other public property, like plazas in front of government buildings, as long as you are not blocking access to the government building or interfering with other purposes the property was designed for.
Private property owners can set rules for speech on their property. The government may not restrict your speech if it is taking place on your own property or with the consent of the property owner.
Counterprotesters also have free speech rights. Police must treat protesters and counterprotesters equally. Police are permitted to keep antagonistic groups separated but should allow them to be within sight and sound of one another.
When you are lawfully present in any public space, you have the right to photograph anything in plain view, including federal buildings and the police. On private property, the owner may set rules related to photography or video.
Do I need a permit?
You don’t need a permit to march in the streets or on sidewalks, as long as marchers don’t obstruct car or pedestrian traffic. If you don't have a permit, police officers can ask you to move to the side of a street or sidewalk to let others pass or for safety reasons.
Certain types of events may require permits. These include a march or parade that requires blocking traffic or street closure; a large rally requiring the use of sound amplifying devices; or a rally over a certain size at most parks or plazas.
While certain permit procedures require submitting an application well in advance of the planned event, police can’t use those procedures to prevent a protest in response to breaking news events.
Restrictions on the route of a march or sound equipment might violate the First Amendment if they are unnecessary for traffic control or public safety, or if they interfere significantly with effective communication to the intended audience.
A permit cannot be denied because the event is controversial or will express unpopular views.
If the permit regulations that apply to your protest require a fee for a permit, they should allow a waiver for those who cannot afford the charge.
Source: www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights
Carpooling & Caravaning to the Rally
Southwestern New Mexico activists (from Silver City, Deming, or Columbus)--if you are seeking a ride to the protest, we encourage the following three strategies:
Talk the protest rally up with your activist friends & carpool together. The more activists at the rally, the better; the fewer cars, the better.
Sign up at Silver City's Independence Day Parade on Friday morning if you would like to be a driver or a passenger to the rally. A member from Indivisible will have signup sheets & a clipboard at the Indivisible "parade unit."
Several Silver City activists are meeting at the Grant County Business & Conference Center (3031 US Highway 180, Silver City) with a plan to depart for Santa Teresa at 5:50 AM on Saturday morning, July 12, to carpool & caravan to the rally. If you need a ride, please email fivermccoy@gmail.com with your name & phone number, specifying whether you wish to be a driver or a passenger. Please respond to the email address above no later than 6 PM on Thursday, July 10. Our working group will do our best to match you with a driver or passengers. (Note: your personal information will not be shared beyond the purposes of carpooling on July 12.)
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