Frogs, chickens, bananas, pigs, unicorns, axolotls and dinosaurs marched alongside several thousand people in the streets of Downtown Albuquerque during the nation-wide “No Kings” protest.
Many attendees wore inflatable costumes, including several different animals, inspired by the inflatable frog costumes and other animals appearing at the Portland, Oregon, Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility protests.
University of New Mexico sophomore Jack Barkhurst attended the march on Saturday, Oct. 18, with a sign that read “No loyalty oaths in higher education! UNM Reject the Compact!,” referring to the Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.
“I think it’s very important that we fight against fascist regimes,” Barkhurst said. “I made this sign to advocate for UNM to reject the compact because it would harm all students.”
The compact uses financial incentives to encourage universities to comply with its ideological mandates, including capping international undergrad enrollment at 15%, banning the use of race or sex in hiring and admissions and defining gender based on biology, according to Reuters.
UNM sophomore Addison Epps participated in the march and said the turnout was impressive.
“I think that in a time when our rights are being questioned, not that they should be at all, it’s important to exercise those rights and show that an authoritarian voice isn’t going to stop the American people from using their constitutional rights like the right to protest, the right to free speech, the right to free press,” Epps said.
Among those seen marching were New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-01), New Mexico Speaker of the House, Javier Martínez (D-Bernalillo), Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and mayoral candidate Alex Uballez.
Uballez later set up on the street for an “Ask Me Anything” session, during which he answered questions from attendees.
“I think it’s important that our leaders are visible and present in the community, and accessible and transparent,” Uballez said. “In times of fear, people look to their leaders for strength, for bravery, for answers, and it’s okay if you don’t have answers but you’ve got to be present to have the discussions.”
Uballez said he was overwhelmed by the turnout and viewed the march as a “first step” in a long process of building a community that’s resilient and can stand for itself.
“What that looks like is mutual aid, it looks like taking care of our neighbors, it looks like, when we see ICE raids, intervening, taking video, calling somebody, figuring out what’s going on,” Uballez said.
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Local Diné chef and entrepreneur, Cleo Otero, was at the march with the American Indian Movement.
“I came out because we need to stand for our rights, not just as Indigenous people, but as a unity across Turtle Island,” Otero said. “And it’s not just a march today. It’s a prayer every day. You get up with intention to be part of the movement or be the movement.”
Rick Gallardo was at the protest with the Brown Berets, a Chicano organization modeled after the Black Panther Party that supports immigration rights and land back movements, among other causes, he said.
“We’re always down for the cause, so we’re always going to show up,” Gallardo said. “I think especially now, it’s so needed that it almost felt necessary.”
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 X @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
