Students, faculty, and staff at the University of New Mexico gathered on Monday to protest in support of Gaza, as confirmed by a statement released by the university on Tuesday.
The peaceful protest took place at the UNM Duck Pond, where members of the university community assembled. Some individuals brought tents and sleeping bags, which were deemed to be in violation of school policy. Campus police informed the protesters that citations or arrests would be issued if the items were not removed.
According to the statement, the police monitored the situation without incident throughout the evening. Around midnight, those who remained at the duck pond were advised to take down their tents to avoid citations. Eventually, the tents were removed, although some individuals chose to stay at the location.
As of Tuesday, approximately a dozen people are present at the duck pond with banners and chairs, but no tents are visible. The university stated that they are actively monitoring the situation.
The statement expressed gratitude to the entire community for demonstrating how protests can be conducted in a manner that respects freedom of expression while maintaining a safe and productive campus environment for all individuals involved.
