Rainbow members hit by ticket barrage

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Approximately 60 participants of the Rainbow Gathering, which will hold an annual event near Cuba, N.M. starting July 1, were stuck in federal court Monday.

This year's gathering will be held in the Santa Fe National Forest. Thousands gather with the common goal of achieving peace and love.

However, some of them said Forest Service Officers aren't sharing the love. Officers have been handing out several citations to some members of the Rainbow Family.

Lawrence Lujan with the U.S. Forest Service said citations have been written for DWI and drug abuse, adding that many of the violations were traffic related.

Sid Gillen from New York was pulled over for two traffic citations.

"We are everywhere we go we're targeted because we're not, part of, we are and we're not part of society," Gillen said.

Lujan said the main objective is to ensure a safe and peaceful event for gatherers and those managing the event.

News 13 was told that most of the citations were settled amicably in court.

The gathering run from July 1-July 7, but over 1,000 members are already in the area to set up camp.