Stop the War Machine meets the second Wednesday of each month, 6pm at the Peace Center. Contact: 505-268-9557

Since Monday, April 22nd, UNM students have maintained a tent camp in solidarity with other students around the country in support of ending the genocide in Palestine. There is a coalition of about 6 local groups joining with the students. The camp is on the northwest side of the Duck Pond, right outside the window of the campus president. The camp is still there, with supporters are bringing food and banners and other items. Updates on the situation here.

 The students occupying the SUB (UNM Student Union Building) were arrested at 3:30am, Tues. April 30, by state police in riot gear. The students in tents were treated a little better, but other students were not.  There are videos of people being thrown around. One horrible video shows a young man being thrown by several police officers head first into chairs and then a cop kneeling on his back as he is handcuffed.  

The crowd (outside?) was apparently tear-gassed or pepper sprayed. Eye washings have been repeatedly necessary.

Peaceful protesters, calling for an end to violence toward defenseless people in Palestine. Not out of self-interest - they are safe here - but of conscience. This is how our country, our state, our governor, our university, our state police treat them. 

Other details: Students had written on SUB walls with chalk. Not spraypaint. State Police broke windows of the SUB.

The governor is responsible for setting university policy for such things as investments, military research and campus police harassing the solidarity encampment (which they have been doing daily for a week now). Tell the governor to divest the university and state from Israeli companies and the war research done here that is carrying out the genocide against Palestine. Contact the Governor - Phone (505) 476-2200, or https://www.governor.state.nm.us/contact-the-governor

There is no bail in NM now, but these protesters may have fines. Some have parking tickets due to trucks or cars having to park nearby without a permit. The Peace Center has an activist fund, but it only has $20.05 in it.  (The activist fund was one of the accounts that disappeared during the period between 2019-2023.). Thanks to a donation, the activist fund was resurrected 5 months ago.  Due to interest, it has grown a penny each month (!) and now stands at $20.05.

It would be easy to beef up this account quickly. Money is a little tight for the ACPJ right now after (since 5/2023) $5,000 in overdue bills, $12,000 to pay for a major plumbing repair - that was really worth $20,000, $27,000 to pay off a loan that was taken out at 19.33% interest, $5,000 to pay for building insurance and $10,000 to pay for D&O insurance.  But after all these have been paid free and clear, we have almost $4,000 in our checking account, and monthly expenses are low. SO - the checking account money needs to stay there. 

BUT - folks who would like to support these UNM activists, and any other activists that may need help in the future, have a way to do this. Donations can be made to the Activist Fund via Paypal at the ABQ Center for Peace and Justice website: https://www.abqpeaceandjustice.org/your-contribution. Or folks can bring or mail a donation to the Peace Center at 202 Harvard SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106. 

If you are mailing a check for the activist fund, please make the check out to the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice and put "activist fund" in the note line.

If you are bringing your donation, remember to call 505-268-9557 first so you can be sure someone is there to receive your donation and write you a receipt.  If you get no answer, feel free to call 505-401-4808.

Please note that if you want your donation to go to the Activist Fund you need to make a note on the note line or on Paypal that says "activist fund". 

The understanding right now is that the protesters will put together a list of financial needs arising from their activism and communicate that to us. At that point, we will see what we have in our activist account and meet whatever needs we can.

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Some needs at the UNM demonstration: 

- There are film clips of the police misbehavior last night toward activists.  It is appalling.  

A projector and power source are needed in order to project these clips at the camp north of the Duck Pond.  There is already a screen.

- You are invited to come to the protest north of the UNM Duck Pond at any time.  Bring a lawn chair if you like and enjoy the beautiful day while you protest.

- Food and beverages are always a good idea.  Al Qud's has been generous in providing food!  Great food, too - please support them by eating there if you can.  Others have brought pizzas, chips, bananas...  Right now food looks like it is low, though.

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Quick report from one at the scene:

Almost 500 people marched from the UnM Palestine solidarity encampment to the SUB and set up tents to take it over until the university responds to demands if divestment. 

At 3am an army of state police in riot gear stormed the building and brutalized at activists—throwing them into furniture, pepper spraying, maxing and beating them. Others cop watched and got shocking videos, which can be seen in instagram: @unmpalestinesolidaritycamp

Multiple arrests, and an ambulance was seen taking some of the kids who were injured by cops. 

We are back at the duck pond and need your help. Please come by - people are exhausted and some are still washing their eyes out from the pepper spray. We need to hold the space.

We need you to make phone calls and emails saying that you want the admin to meet with us about divestment instead of brutalizing us.

Send emails & phone calls: Phone: (505) 277-7639 Email: regents@unm.edu

Dear UNM Board of Regents,

As a (student/alumni/faculty/staff/community) member of the University of New Mexico I am urging that you support the demands presented by the UNM Solidarity Palestinian Encampment. We recognize UNM's direct connections to genocide and apartheid through its investments and relationships with various corporations, institutions and other entities and we demand immediate change. We are UNM and we will not allow our money to be used for death and destruction.

Further, I condemn the brutalization of students expressing their first amendment rights, and demand the charges be dropped against all those arrested the morning of April 30th, 2024. You can ignore the calls for justice and brutalize students with riot police, but you cannot stop the tides of change.  

Once again, I urge you to support the demands linked below. Encampments will continue until demands are met!

Thank you.

All of the news covered this, including KUNM and the source and the different TV stations.

https://twitter.com/shaun505/status/1785245695378854260

https://www.kunm.org/local-news/2024-04-30/state-police-arrest-pro-palestinian-protestors-at-unm

https://www.koat.com/article/palestine-protest-student-union-building-university-new-mexico/60642421

     If you have time and can support the students in this solidarity camp please come over and stay as long as you can. With enough numbers we can keep the camp going.

More info: https://beacons.ai/unmduckpondcamp