The (un)Occupy Albuquerque protesters have turned their attention from Wall Street to the fight for their First Amendment rights and their right to occupy UNM’s Yale Park.
Death march for First Amendment rights
(un)Occupy Albuquerque protesters marched down Central Avenue with a coffin Saturday and said they were mourning what they called the death of their Constitutional rights.
Protesters dressed in black carried tombstones and a coffin to symbolically protest their eviction from Yale Park last week.
“We’re going to march down with our First, Second, Fifth and 14th amendment rights in the coffin,” protester Jen Gomez told KOB.
“When we reach our destination, they will be resurrected and brought back to life as if they have never disappeared before.”
Protesters are also involved with the American Civil Liberties Union discussing legal action to be taken against the University.
Letter from Washington, D.C.
Barbara J. Wien, former program officer and conflict resolution trainer for the U.S. Institute of Peace and co-director of Peace Brigades International wrote a letter to UNM President David Schmidly condemning his decision to kick protesters out of Yale Park.
“I find your conduct most undignified and not befitting the Office of the President,” Wien wrote. “I am writing to urge you to cease and desist your Gestapo tactics and repression against protesters who are merely exercising their Constitutionally-guaranteed rights to assembly and free speech.”
Wien said legal repercussions that could occur as a result of Schmidly’s decision may prove costly to the University.
“Many eyes are upon you now,” she said. “I hope you have the capacity to look into your heart and soul and reverse the errors of your ways.”
Schmidly has not made a public response to the letter.
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UNM offers compromise
Protesters continued to hold their nightly general assembly meetings on a corner of Yale Park and the sidewalk next to westbound Central Avenue this weekend, despite the ongoing presence of UNM Police Department officers.
University administrators offered a compromise Friday night that would re-open Yale Park, but only during specific hours.
The compromise would open the park from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.
According to General Assembly notes, the compromise was not well received. Protesters are considering other city parks for future occupation.
Student and almunus protesters go on hunger strike
At least three protesters are on hunger strike in an effort to convince UNM President David Schmidly to talk to them.
UNM alumnus Sebastian Pais has been on hunger strike for nearly a week, and students Kristen Gandy and Brittany Arneson joined the strike.
(un)Occupy protesters have started a petition in conjunction with the hunger strike, which had 444 signatures as of Sunday evening.
“As the (permit) expired this time, President Schmidly refused to dialogue with the movement and instead decided to remove participants from Yale Park,” the petition said. “Occupiers were arrested and one participant, Sebastian Pais, is now on a hunger strike until President Schmidly will re-open a dialogue with the participants and negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement for a space for (un)Occupy Albuquerque.”
Pais said he values free speech.
“I came to the United States from Argentina in 2003,” he said. “My country survived half a century of dictators. During those many years, freedom of speech and assembly were severely curtailed. I expect the U.S. to be a nation that respects and honors this top priority for democracy.”
