Tierra Amarilla

Tierra Amarilla is a small town in the Carson National Forest in northern New Mexico, county seat of Rio Arriba County. On June 5, 1967, a small band of Hispanic men affiliated with Alianza Federal de Mercedes led by Reies Tijerina attempted to arrest the district attorney of the county and put him on trial. There were shots fired and two men were wounded. The invaders held the courthouse for two hours, ransacking it, but the district attorney was out of town. The National Guard, including armored tanks, was called in by Governer Cargo. While the gunmen were in hiding, the National Guard held many of their family members captive. This incident received national publicity and brought the Alianza's cause to public attention.

Further Reading

• Grito! Reies Tijerina and the New Mexico Land Grant War of 1967 Richard Gardner, Harper Colophon Books, New York, 1970, trade paperback, 292 pages, ISBN 06-090247-7
• The Great Taos Bank Robbery and other Indian Country Affairs, Tony Hillerman, University of New Mexico Press, Albquerque, 1973, trade paperback, 147 pages, ISBN 0-8263-0530-X