Albuquerque, New Mexico – Students, faculty, and staff at the University of New Mexico have taken to peaceful protest in support of Gaza, according to a statement released by the university on Tuesday. The protests began on Monday, with members of the UNM community gathering at the UNM Duck Pond to demonstrate their solidarity.
The university’s statement mentioned that some of the demonstrators brought tents and sleeping bags, which violated school policy. Campus police warned them of potential citations or arrests if the items were not removed. Despite this, the situation remained calm, with police monitoring the protest throughout the evening without any incidents.
By midnight, those who remained at the Duck Pond were advised to remove their tents. Although compliance was eventually achieved, a small group continued to stay with banners and chairs but without tents. The university reported that about a dozen individuals were present at the Duck Pond as of Tuesday.
In response to the ongoing protests, the university expressed gratitude to the community for demonstrating how peaceful protests can uphold freedom of expression while maintaining a safe and productive campus environment for all. The statement emphasized the importance of balancing the rights of individuals to voice their opinions with the need for a secure campus atmosphere.
UNM officials confirmed that they are monitoring the situation closely as of Tuesday. The university remains committed to ensuring that protests can take place in a manner that respects the principles of free speech and promotes a positive campus environment for all students, faculty, and staff.