On Monday, Sept. 1, thousands of people gathered and marched at Civic Plaza in Downtown Albuquerque during the “Workers Over Billionaires" rally on Labor Day.
Participants of all ages chanted and carried handmade signs relating to multiple issues including workers rights, immigrant rights, Palestinian rights and disapproval of the Trump administration.
Neidi Dominguez, executive director of Organized Power in Numbers, said more than 3500 people attended the march.
“We’re one of more than a thousand actions across the country that are saying today, everyday it should be workers over billionaires,” Dominguez said.
Multiple organizations were represented, including United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico, United Academics of UNM, Organizers in the Land of Enchantment, Albuquerque Teacher’s Federation, Women’s March, Jewish Voice for Peace and Organized Power in Numbers.
The rally coincided with some 1,000 “Workers Over Billionaires” rallies across the U.S., according to NBC News.
Samia Assed, one of the co-organizers of the rally, said she centers Gaza, the capitol city of Palestine, on all the issues mentioned at the rally.
“We center Gaza because it is the issue of our lifetime,” Assed said. “It is the moral compass for our community and for our youth, and globally, it's been in the hearts and minds of millions and billions of human beings who do not stand for the ethnic cleansing and the genocide of Palestinians.”
Since Oct. 7, 2023, 63,000 people have died from Israel’s military action, according to Reuters. Famine is spreading in Gaza and will likely continue without an influx of humanitarian aid by the end of September, according to United Nations News.
Assed said she was heartened by the organizers at the rally for keeping Palestine in the conversation.
“They were intentional in centering Gaza, and to me, that meant the world. As a Palestinian who many at times feels helpless and is very broken quite frankly, but I always recenter myself with the like-minded conscientious activists who understand the responsibility that’s on their shoulders and I am grateful,” Assed said.
United Graduate Workers of UNM President and PhD student Ramona Malczynski, said that UGW showed up to “stand in solidarity” with other labor unions from across the city.
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“I think the turnout today was amazing; 9 a.m. on a national holiday, and we saw thousands of people show up. I think that shows that people are ready to fight,” Malczynski said. “It might seem like we’re losing, but I think that people are really waking up and becoming unified.”
Enrique Cardiel, member of Bernalillo County La Raza Unida, said he has been working on community education regarding detainments by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, militarization of the police and increased surveillance.
“Beyond protest, I hope that people come together and build a solid community because we’re going to really need to protect each other,” Cardiel said.
Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa88
Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa88
