Sunday, Jan. 19
On Jan. 19, hundreds of protesters rallied and marched at Civic Plaza during the People’s March in response to President Donald Trump’s return to office. Protesters chanted and carried signs highlighting areas another Trump presidency may impact, including reproductive rights, immigrant rights, environmental justice, affordable healthcare and Palestinian rights.
Politicians and community members spoke to the crowd during the rally, including former United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D), Albuquerque City Councilor Nichole Rogers, poet Hakim Bellamy and Albuquerque First Lady Elizabeth Kistin Keller.
“We will need to do the hard work of getting important things done and pushing back against an administration who couldn’t care less about regular people — about people like us,” Haaland told the crowd.
Samia Assed, chair of New Mexico Women’s March, was the lead organizer of the event.
“For us to address the Trump agenda moving forward, we needed to come together," Assed told the Daily Lobo. “The power of people — the power of mobilizing — is at the core of how we fight for our democracy.”
The march also coincided with a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas after over a year of war in Gaza. The first phase of the ceasefire deal started Jan. 19 and will last six weeks, during which 33 Israeli hostages and 1,900 Palestinians from Israeli prisons are expected to be released, according to NPR.
“Gaza is very much in the hearts of Americans,” Assed said. “The story of the atrocities that happened has impacted millions of Americans because you had a live stream for 15 months.”
Protester and activist Susan Schuurman said U.S. leadership “needs to catch up” with Americans when it comes to Palestine.
“That was part of what we were trying to do (at the People’s March),” Assed said. “Some may not be comfortable, but it was in their face that Palestine was at the forefront.”
Lucas Batista just moved to Albuquerque and said he was happy he showed up to the march because he wanted to get connected with the community.
“Not only did I get to meet other activists, but I got to hear from local representatives and organizations that are doing a lot of work for women’s reproductive rights, Indigenous rights and freedom for Palestine,” Batista said.
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Lori Remillard said she attended the march as a “concerned citizen.”
“As New Mexicans, as minorities, we need to continue to fight for our rights,” Remillard said. “Women's rights, bodily autonomy and LGBTQIA+ rights. That’s what brought me out.”
Monday, Jan. 20
Protesters continued rallying the next day — Inauguration Day — at Robinson Park. The event brought together local organizations including the Albuquerque Party for Socialism and Liberation, the Peoples Housing Project, the American Indian Movement and the United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico.
“Thank you all for coming today; it's just a model for how resistance to Trump and the billionaire agenda will go forward,” event facilitator Donovan Glasgow told the crowd. “We’re not going to let the ruling class divide us.”
Dom Oddo, an organizer from UGW at UNM, spoke to attendees about unionizing workers.
“We should seek to build a system where workers have all the power,” Oddo said. “When workers are divided, we're easy to control, but we are more powerful when we unite.”
Local Native American activists with the American Indian Movement celebrated the commuted life sentence of Indigenous activist and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa elder Leonard Peltier, who was sentenced to life in prison for fatally shooting two FBI agents in the 1970s, according to NPR.
Peltier’s defense argued that his case contained falsified evidence, according to The Associated Press, and the National Congress of American Indians said the case symbolizes systemic injustice against Indigenous peoples.
Former President Joe Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence so he can spend the rest of his confinement at home after nearly 50 years in prison, according to the AP. Peltier, now in his 80s, was an active member of the AIM in the 1970s.
Cleo Otero, a local Diné chef and entrepreneur who is a part of the AIM, was among those present at Robinson Park.
“This is a monumental day, because it's not only Martin Luther King Day, but also the freedom of an elder that stood up,” Otero said. “Today, we're fighting for the people, for all Indigenous lands.”
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
