A local Arizona store owner disrupted an ESPN production this week to make fun of Native American performers while chanting, “MAGA nation,” and the entire racist outburst was captured on camera with the video of Gilbert Ortega in Scottsdale AZ viral
What has been the story?
Gilbert Ortega of Scottsdale AZ mocks dancers during ESPN super bowl promo in Arizona
Gilbert Ortega, the proprietor of the shop, has been charged with three charges of disorderly conduct, according to a statement from Scottsdale PD investigators, who have just finished their investigation. According to police, minor disorderly conduct does not meet the FBI’s definition of a hate crime.
This week, a local business owner in Arizona interrupted an ESPN production to make fun of Native American performers while chanting, “MAGA nation,” and the entire racist outburst was captured on camera.
One of the Native American artists recruited by ESPN for the Super Bowl promo, Cody Blackbird, who is of Cherokee/Dakota origin, told TMZ that Gilbert Ortega started making fun of the dancers on Tuesday in downtown Scottsdale from the front of his jewellery store. According to reports, some of the group approached Ortega while the video was being made because he was mocking their gestures and chanting.
The bigger picture
According to a video obtained by TMZ of the altercation, Ortega was there to provoke and posture. He called the Native Americans “f**king Indians,” invoked MAGA, and told them to return to Gallup, New Mexico, which is where a well-known reservation is located.
At one point, Ortega even approached the group for a heated face-to-face because he dared to speak to them directly about what he was thinking. So, yes, he was hunting for problems and attempting to annoy the performers. He was unfortunately successful.
Fortunately, there wasn’t any violence. After being picked up by a friend, Ortega returned to his shop, which strangely sells Native American artefacts, and the whole incident faded away.
The Native American group had some disgruntled members who complained to the police. According to the Scottsdale Police Department, they are looking into the event as “potential disorderly conduct” but, as of right now, they don’t believe it to be a hate crime. Depending on the results of the investigation, it may change.