Protest

As President Trump entered the chamber to address a joint session of Congress Tuesday, New Mexico U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury stood behind him with a sign that read, “This is not normal.”

In response to President Trump’s inauguration, people came together on Monday in downtown Albuquerque to call for protection of workers’ rights, immigrants, and more housing.

Protesters rallied outside a University of New Mexico Board of Regents' meeting Thursday, before joining in public comment to condemn the clearing of a pro-Palestinian encampment by police on Wednesday.

Protesters say that while they celebrate having won a commitment from the university to investigate its financial connections to Israel, the police action was unjustified and they plan to keep up the pressure on university leaders.

Twelve hours after the deadline to either pack up and leave or face more police raids, the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at the University of New Mexico stayed in place. By 7 a.m. Wednesday, police had moved the group from the encampment.

The University of New Mexico issued an ultimatum to protesters at a pro-Palestinian encampment at the campus Duck Pond Tuesday afternoon, warning them to dismantle the camp by 5 p.m.

The pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of New Mexico has been holding space day and night at the campus’s duck pond for the last week following similar protests across the country. Last night, organizers moved into the Student Union Building. New Mexico State Police forcibly removed the protestors around 3:30 a.m., detaining several.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had to pause during her State of the State Address three separate times Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 16, as vocal environmental and pro-Palestinian protesters were ushered out of the chamber.

The New Mexico Department of Health says new COVID-19 cases have been trending downward. Still, those on the frontlines are feeling the effects of providing care these last three years. Health care workers at the University of New Mexico are planning a protest Thursday morning to demand better working conditions.

Tuesday was the third protest this year for the Members of the United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico who are protesting not only for higher wages but to stop a proposal that would increase insurance premiums.