LOS ALAMOS, N.M. – In the summer of 1945, the world witnessed the devastating consequences of atomic bombs dropped on Japan, marking a turning point in history. While it brought an end to World War II, the aftermath left many grappling with the long-term effects of radiation exposure.
Little did many know, weeks before this historic event, the skies of southern New Mexico lit up with a blinding flash, signaling the Trinity Test – the first nuclear explosion on U.S. soil. The fallout from this test contaminated the land, affecting communities for generations to come.
These untold stories of New Mexico’s downwinders – those who survived the atomic blast and those impacted by uranium mining – are now coming to light through the powerful documentary “First We Bombed New Mexico,” garnering acclaim at film festivals nationwide.
Directed by Lois Lipman, the film shed light on the displacement of ranching families, the lives altered in the Tularosa Basin, and the Native American miners who faced health risks in the uranium industry. The documentary’s impact has sparked conversations and calls for justice.
In a rare screening at the Oppenheimer Film Festival in Los Alamos, viewers were moved by the stories shared, reflecting on a painful chapter in America’s nuclear legacy.
Despite the federal government’s silence on the injustices faced by the downwinders, the film’s message resonated with audiences nationwide, sparking a movement for recognition and compensation for those affected by nuclear testing.
As downwinders continue to fight for justice, communities unite to demand accountability and reparation for the historical wrongs inflicted upon them.
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