OPINION: RFK Jr. offers a vision for a fairer America that uplifts marginalized communities

On Saturday (June 15), I was fortunate to get the opportunity to attend the worldwide premiere of the documentary film “Recovering America” at the Kiva Auditorium with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in attendance, introducing the film and participating in a roundtable after the film with those the film follows, and Dr. Drew moderating the panel discussion.

In the film, RFK Jr. bears witness to the addiction crisis and visits extraordinary programs, charting new courses for people struggling with addiction. RFK Jr. also shares his journey to recovery, and as it occurred to me, also his journey to New Mexico, bringing his documentary on overcoming addiction to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the throes of his presidential campaign as an independent, as an outsider, to the duopoly overpowering Washington, but not an outsider to New Mexico.

It occurred to me how much Robert F. Kennedy shared with New Mexico.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is standing up for progressive values and the environment. Kennedy has spent his life fighting for clean air, water, and the natural beauty of our land. His commitment to combating climate change and protecting our resources mirrors the love New Mexicans have for their unique landscapes

With Kennedy in office, our state’s environmental treasures would have a strong advocate at the national level and an undying commitment to protecting the New Mexico lands and cultures.

Proper and available health care is a priority for Kennedy. New Mexico struggles with health care access, especially in rural areas. Kennedy’s plans for improving health care, covering lower costs, and addressing inequities in the broken system would create real change for New Mexicans. His focus on expanding coverage and improving health outcomes shows he understands our needs. For many New Mexicans, this would mean better, more affordable care.

Kennedy’s focus on renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure is just what New Mexico needs. Our state has the potential to lead in clean energy production. Kennedy’s policies would create jobs and support local businesses, driving economic growth.

Supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. means advocating for a future that values the environment, health care, justice, and economic opportunity for all New Mexicans. He stands against corporate corruption and for government transparency. This aligns with the values of New Mexicans, who want a government that serves the people, not special interests.

Kennedy’s vision for a fairer America promises to uplift marginalized communities and promote equality with power and dignity coming back to the people by ending the endless wars and bringing our country back to a financially and spiritually strong nation again, felt this time by the hard-working people who have been cheated out of the American dream.

Robert F. Kennedy is the man who can and will open that door again.

Timing is everything, and this is the time for a new course. There were 107,543 deaths by overdose in the U.S. in 2023. This was a decline from the year prior.

On June 15, Robert F. Kennedy brought a gift to New Mexico. That gift was “Recovering America,” a documentary film. Then, for over an hour, Mr. Kennedy, with over 600 people in the auditorium, held an open discussion with a number of recovering addicts from the film on how they changed their lives for the better and what could be done to prevent these deaths and lives from destruction from addiction and homelessness.

This is an American epidemic that Mr. Kennedy is not ignoring or standing by.