02/10/2023
Wow! All these years growing up in Old Town Scottsdale, I would always pass by Gilbert Ortega Native American galleries and wonder who he was. I had no idea he actually had this much disdain for the people he profits from! Now that it’s seemingly acceptable to be openly racist, we finally get to see who he really is!
A video shows a man with long hair, since identified as Ortega Jr., chant in a mocking manner, as well as saying "MAGA Country" at one point, a reference to Former President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign slogan, Make America Great Again.
"It is reported that Mr. Ortega began yelling at the performers causing a disturbance," Scottsdale police said.
"He seemed angry at the fact that natives were having a platform and being asked to do this," said Cody Blackbird, who recorded the video. "A lot of the local shop owners are very supportive of the native art market we were there performing for."
At one point during the video, Ortega Jr. was seen getting physically close to the Blackbird. Towards the end of the video, a woman was seen exiting the store, eventually having a conversation with Ortega.
Blackbird said on Feb. 8, Ortega Jr. tried to apologize in person.
"He went to shake my hand and say how sorry he was," said Blackbird. "I didn't accept the apology or the handshake. He left flowers."
We reached out to Ortega Jr. for a statement, but we have yet to heard back.
