Opinion

Letter to governor, state agencies regarding Salt River wild horse group’s conduct

Posted Monday, July 14, 2025 10:48 am

Independent Newsmedia

Submitted by John Mack | Fountain Hills

To the governor of Arizona, the Arizona Department of Agriculture, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Forest Service:

I am writing to express serious concern regarding the conduct of the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) — an organization contracted by and operating in affiliation with the state of Arizona for the management of wild horses on public lands.

SRWHMG’s public Facebook page has become a platform for ongoing harassment, threats of violence, and coordinated defamation directed at individuals involved in horse handling and removal efforts authorized by public agencies. The tone and content of these attacks have escalated into outright incitement, all of it happening in full view of the public, with no effort by SRWHMG to moderate or condemn the behavior.

The following statements have been posted on SRWHMG’s official Facebook page and remained publicly visible as of Thursday (7/10):

“There needs to be a bounty on her head.”
“There should be a wanted poster in the post office.”
“Someone needs to take her out — legally or illegally.”
“I hope someone beats her and sells her at auction.”
“She is subhuman and needs to be reminded of it.”
“What a sadistic person… we all know what we’d want — her taken down.”
“Sick and cruel… lowest of the low… monster… vile… scum."
“She is the ultimate in evil! If evil had a face, it would be her!”
“I emailed @GovernorHobbs and told her (this person) was responsible.”

This last comment is especially alarming — not only for its language but for its intent: to pressure elected officials using false, inflammatory narratives. It is deeply disturbing that this level of public hostility is being allowed — and arguably encouraged — by a group that operates under the authority of a state contract.

This is not simply a matter of nonprofit decorum. It is a public safety and ethical accountability issue. An organization receiving public funds and exercising state-affiliated authority should be held to the highest standards of professionalism and conduct — online as well as in the field.

By allowing these attacks to stand, SRWHMG is complicit, and by continuing to authorize this organization without action, the State of Arizona is effectively endorsing this behavior.

I respectfully request the following:

An immediate review of SRWHMG’s online communications and conduct, as it relates to its role and responsibilities as a publicly affiliated contractor.
Suspension or revocation of any current contract, if it is determined that the group is fostering or tolerating online abuse and harassment.
A public statement from each agency affirming that violent rhetoric, threats, and coordinated digital harassment have no place in publicly affiliated work.
Enforceable standards requiring that all organizations affiliated with public land or animal management maintain digital spaces that are civil, factual, and free from threats or targeted abuse.

This is not simply about one page or one group — it’s about the responsibility of public institutions to uphold trust, ethics, and safety. Letting this conduct continue, unchecked, erodes the public’s faith in the very systems charged with protecting both animals and people.