Let’s Talk New Mexico, 7/3/25, 8am: Recently, nationwide protests have erupted in response to sweeping policy changes in the upper echelons of the federal government – from immigration and foreign aid, to what some regard as authoritarian actions by the new Trump administration. In the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, others took to state capitols to voice their disdain with the electoral process. Before that, Black Lives Matter, the Occupy movement, multiple war protests, and civil rights demonstrators made waves.
In our region, organized protesting and the act of speaking out have deep roots – arguably reaching back to the time of European incursion. On the next Let’s Talk New Mexico we’ll discuss protests. Do they work? Which strategies are most effective? How have demonstrations and the responses to them evolved? Share your experiences at letstalk@kunm.org, leave a voice message by clicking the link below, or call in live at (505) 277-5866 Thursday morning at 8.
GUESTS:
- Algernon D'Ammassa, Southern New Mexico correspondent, Albuquerque Journal
- Gilbert Gallegos, Spokesperson, Albuquerque Police Department
- Deige, community organizer and protest instructor
- Neve, grassroots community organizer
RELATED MEDIA:
"Guns and protests," Desert Sage
"Tapping into the power of the protest," Texas Public Radio's The Source
"The activist’s dilemma: Extreme protest actions reduce popular support for social movements." American Psychological Association
"From Gulf to Bridge: When Do Moral Arguments Facilitate Political Influence?" Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
"Police Infiltration of Protests Undermines the First Amendment" The Brennan Center for Justice
EMAILS FROM LISTENERS:
From listener Adrienne — I am a Jew who is part of an antizionist Jewish group that is part of a larger coalition fighting for Palestinian freedoms and ending the genocide. We are potentially a more ostracized movement based on the ways in which Palestinian dignity has been subverted and silenced.
However we show up constantly to larger protests with puppets, music, dance, and theatre. We have even had silent protests that completely change d the temperature of a protest. I want to encourage movements to find creativity and engagement that both encourages other activists and those sitting on the sidelines to become intimate with suffering.
From listener Debaura — Down in the southwestern part of the state, Indivisibles have staged weekly protests on Fridays and have sponsored an April 8 event, a large No Kings protest, a Support our Veterans all since the inauguration of the 47th president. I'm part of a subgroup of our local Indivisibles group who are protesting the authoritarian takeover of our southern border, 180 miles and 190,000 acres of mostly public land which has now been militarized under the Alien Enemies Act. New Mexicans did not consent to this militarization.
The first protest will be at 9 a.m. on July 12. Our group represents humanitarian and faith-based groups whose attempts to provide water to those who attempt crossing at this very dangerous and stark region of our shared border. These groups have been present in the region since 2020 and scour the desert for both survivors and victims of attempting to find escape violence in their home country, seeking safety on this side of the border. We also represent hunters and hikers and wildlife who are impeded. Citizens from Silver City, Las Cruces and El Paso will be attending the July 12th event. We invite all New Mexicans to attend and/or spread the news about the issues. Most Americans are unaware.
I also want to say that there is something for small groups who have a common spirituality or cause that has a long term strategy, such as to end an occupation. The relationships makes the the difference when times get hard, such as the continual destruction of Gaza and the West Bank and the slaughter of Palestinains.
From an anonymous listener — Dr. King developed a philosophy, methodology and strategy consisting of 6 principles and 6 steps, that involved negotiation and much more before a protest was resorted to. Rosa Parks trained in-dept with a trainer who studied Mahatma Gandhi, before she decided to make her stand by remaining seated to illustrate the injustice of segregation in Montgomery. This is called using creative tension, in an intelligent manner to dramatize the issue and the conditions underlying the reasons for the protest. They studied for years how to work with their supposed opponents, before resorting to a protest, which them due to the turn out demonstrated to decision makers such as congressional delegation that they have the support of the people in making change.
There are training all over the U.S. to learn the Kingian Nonviolence methodology, most well-known is the Univ. of Rhode Island Center for Nonviolence and Peace Center, which attracts people from all walks of life globally.
