Around 60 protesters gathered outside Sen. Martin Heinrich’s Albuquerque office on Sept. 10, calling on the senator to return campaign contributions linked to Palantir Technologies and refuse future contributions connected to the company.
The demonstration was organized as part of the “Purge Palantir from Gaza to New Mexico” campaign. According to the campaign’s analysis of Federal Election Commission data, Heinrich has received $31,300 in contributions from Palantir executives and the company’s political action committee. The analysis includes contributions recorded between 2006 and May 6, 2026.
Organizers are demanding that Heinrich return those contributions and sign a pledge refusing future money from Palantir executives, PACs and others connected with the company. The campaign has also directed its demands toward other members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation, including Sen. Ben Ray Luján and Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández, Melanie Stansbury and Gabe Vasquez.
Speakers criticized Palantir’s work with both the Israeli government and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. One of the speakers was Jonathan Juárez, a community organizer and former UNM student who left the university in 2021 to pursue political activism.
Palantir, a data-analysis and artificial intelligence company, announced in January 2024 that it had entered a “strategic partnership” with the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Palantir said the agreement would supply its technology to support Israel’s war effort.
Federal spending records show that ICE awarded Palantir a contract worth approximately $86.3 million in May 2026 for technology supporting The agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and its case-management system.
The Sept. 10 demonstration lasted for more than an hour outside the WaFd Bank building near 3rd Street and Copper Avenue. Protesters carried signs and used props, including a skeleton and a mock-up of an Israel Defense Forces soldier, while speakers addressed the crowd. Other demonstrators encouraged passersby to vote in the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Security personnel remained near the building’s entrances as the protest drew attention from pedestrians passing through downtown Albuquerque.
George Slad is a freelance photographer for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at photo@dailylobo.com or on X @SladGeorge
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PHOTO STORY: Students find time to play ‘Every Game Show Ever’
September 7On Sept. 1, UNM Student Special Events and the Student Activities Center hosted an event called “Every Game Show Ever” in the Student Union Building ballrooms. The event began with the host discussing the rules and what games would be played, including “The Price is Mid,” “Where is that Labubu,” “Seal or no Seal,” “Top that Track” and “Keep It Elementary.” The host tried to make sure that everyone got a shot at winning a gift card. Each game had a different gameplay and featured different participants. At the end of the event, there was a dance-off for two more gift cards where anyone could join. Cayden Flores is a freelance photographer at the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at photo@dailylobo.com and on X @DailyLobo
PHOTO STORY: Little Anita’s serves up New Mexican favorites
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PHOTO STORY: ‘Laugh Out Loud’ musical bingo event brings the laughs
September 4On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico Student Special Events and the Student Activities Center hosted a “Laugh Out Loud Musical Bingo” event in the Student Union Building ballrooms as a free event for students. The flier stated free admission for UNM Students. The bingo cards were full of popular artists ranging from as early as the 1990’s to more modern music. The host of the event was an impersonator of Ron Burgundy, Will Ferrell’s title role in the “Anchorman” films, and brought the energy for the night. Some of the “laugh out loud” challenges included the chubby bunny game, an artist impersonation game and a “K-Pop or K-Not” game. These activities were conducted in between the many decades of music played for the bingo part of the night’s festivities. The prizes consisted of $200 worth of gift cards. Cayden Flores is a freelance photographer at the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at photo@dailylobo.com and on X @DailyLobo
