PROTESTERS PICKET JOHNSON'S SCHOOL APPEARANCE

A handful of protesters stood outside DeVargas Middle School Monday morning
while Gov. Gary Johnson spoke to students, saying the governor shouldn't be
allowed to speak with students because of his opinion on drug legalization.

Jose Villegas, a local parent and activist, gathered his two children and
two other adults - including Santa Fe community activist Gloria Mendoza -
for the protest.

But Villegas held a protest sign that misspelled both the words "governor"
and "Johnson."

"Govenor Jonhson: Don't defile my kids!" Villegas' sign read.

Johnson spoke with seventh- and eighth-graders at the school for about 10
minutes - and didn't mention his campaign for drug legalization. Instead,
the governor told the students why he believes in school vouchers and said
that with billions of stars and planets in the universe, intelligent life
must exist in places other than Earth.

Villegas and the other protesters stayed out in front of the school with
protest signs, and did not hear Johnson's speech.

Villegas said he misspelled the words on his protest sign on purpose.

"I did it because he can't read anyways," Villegas said. "I was provoking
him. He doesn't deserve to be called governor."

When Johnson arrived with several staff members at the school, he jogged
over to the protesters to talk to them. Principal Debra Carden, who
witnessed the event, said Johnson couldn't get a word in edgewise because
group members were shouting at him.

"They continued to shout at him," said Johnson spokeswoman Diane
Kinderwater. "He told them he was invited to the school. He didn't shy away
from the protesters. He ran up to engage in a dialogue and they shouted at
him."

Villegas confirmed the group didn't want to hear what Johnson had to say.

"Yes, I did shout at him," Villegas said. "He's corrupting these kids and
their minds."

Johnson spoke at Santa Fe High School last week to students - mostly
juniors and seniors - and most of the hour-long conversation was about
Johnson's ideas to legalize marijuana and heroin.

Villegas said Monday that if he'd known Johnson was going to Santa Fe High,
he would have tried to rally a protest

there, too. Villegas filed for a restraining order against Johnson on
Friday, trying to keep him out of DeVargas Middle School. His request was
denied by Judge Steve Pfeffer, who said the governor - like other Americans
- - has a right to free speech.

Other protesters Monday held signs saying: "Take your drug talk somewhere
else."

Gloria Mendoza said she decided to join the protest because Johnson is an
"ex-druggie" and shouldn't be talking to kids.

Johnson has admitted using cocaine decades ago, but now says he's someone
who doesn't even condone eating sugar, much less drugs or alcohol.