On Thursday, Oct. 31, protesters marched at CSI Aviation in Albuquerque, where former President Donald Trump was making a campaign stop.
The protest was organized by the Albuquerque Party for Socialism and Liberation in rejection of Trump’s visit to New Mexico. It focused on criticizing Trump’s stance on immigration, uplifting the working class and ending the war in Gaza.
The group of about 40 protesters marched down Clark Carr Road toward where Trump was speaking, until a line of Albuquerque Police Department officers blocked off the road. Protesters chanted and rallied there before marching back.
When the protest concluded, Trump rally attendees clashed with protesters as attendees left early because the venue was filled to capacity and the doors had closed.
Several Trump rally attendees approached the group of protesters at a traffic island at the intersection of Clark Carr Road and Spirit Drive, quickly outnumbering protesters.
Some Trump rally attendees made obscene gestures; others repeatedly chanted “up, up with deportation,” “Donald Trump,” “USA” and “cowards.”
Protesters chanted, “no more bans, no more walls” and “money for jobs and education, not for war and deportation.”
The situation deescalated when protesters left the island and crossed Spirit Drive. They chanted, “land of the peace, land of the light, Palestine deserves its right.”
University of New Mexico alum Zoey Craft was among those who showed up to protest.
“It was really important that the community came out today to take a stand against fascism, against Donald Trump and everything he stands for,” Craft said.
In an interview with The New York Times, Trump’s former Chief of Staff John Kelly said Trump is a far-right authoritarian and “falls into the general definition of fascist, for sure.”
Marisa Sedillo, a UNM student and member of the Albuquerque PSL, spoke during the protest.
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“Every worker here today has the same interest, and we’re all on the same side,” Sedillo said. “We’re not here to antagonize anyone. All workers need to band together to fight for justice.”
Protester Raife Caspian Juárez said he is concerned about the way Trump talks about immigration.
In the Sept. 10 televised presidential debate between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump made a false statement about Haitian immigrants in Ohio abducting and eating pets, according to The Associated Press.
After the escalation, the group of protesters reduced in size and remained on a street corner near the venue carrying signs and flags while Trump rally attendees left the venue.
Craft said that several people are disillusioned with the political system this election year.
“I think we've seen that no matter who is president, we have a responsibility to each other," Craft said. “They are not coming to save all of us. We have to do that for ourselves.”
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
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa88
