DAILY LOBO new mexico
October 10, 2011
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monday The Independent Voice of UNM since 1895
‘Die-in’ protest
opposes US wars by Tamon Rasberry news@dailylobo.com
Protestors outside UNM Bookstore on Saturday chanted “Tax the rich, end the war” in honor of the tenth anniversary of U.S. involvement in the Afghanistan war.
“Having a concrete spectacle like the die-in really puts flesh on the bones of a possibility about the reality of what it could be like in Afghanistan,” ~Jordan Whelchel UNM student Activist groups Stop the War Machine and the Answer Coalition organized the protest. They called it a “die-in” and acted out the sounds and sights of bombs and death brought on by war, student Jordan Whelchel said. “Having a concrete spectacle like the die-in really puts flesh on
Ariana Hatcher / Daily Lobo Joel Gallegos and Brittany Arneson protest on Central Avenue last Saturday. Occupy Albuquerque is part of a national grassroots campaign that originated in New York in protest of corporate greed. The protesters started marching at the UNM Bookstore and finished at Central and San Mateo Boulevard. the bones of a possibility about the reality of what it could be like in Afghanistan,” he said. “Street theatre is a way of embodying that.” English professor Sharon Warner attended the protest and said she is increasingly concerned with the economic situation in the United States and the shrinking
middle class. “I have two sons who are in their 20s and I worry about what’s in store for them and their children,” she said. “It’s harder and harder for people to make the American dream work these days because more and more of the money is being concentrated in the work of
fewer and fewer people.” Warner said she supported the protesters because they are voicing their concerns. “People as a nation can be very complacent about some issues, and so people should get out there and bring their concerns to the larger populace,” she said.
“I hope the protest can become something that will begin to educate the larger populace because I think there are a lot of people who don’t understand what’s happening in this country in the concentration of wealth and continuing wars that don’t seem to have any point to them.”
of around 50 people protesters at Yale Park, the camp’s current location, on Sunday night. He said people have been overwhelmingly supportive of the movement, and have donated resources such as food, use of laundry facilities and bathrooms to the protesters. Knight said protesters have been able to supply meals and blankets to the local homeless population. “That particular portion of society isn’t necessarily heard from very often,” he said. “It’s good that they’re here participating.” The campsite features a kitchen, a library, an information booth, and a sign-making station. He said life on the campsite is a relaxing break from the typical grind. “There’s a lot of — and that’s one of the reasons I love coming down here — people sitting in circles, just sort of discussing their minds, their thoughts, whatever they think is going on,” Knight said. “That’s not necessarily made to be a priority in our culture.” Each day, protesters hold meetings to discuss action plans, policy, and camp logistics. The movement functions as a direct democracy, which means that before any decision is
made it must be approved by all participants in the meeting. “There are those of us who are more vocal than others, but we are all definitely actively participating,” he said. “No decision goes through without absolute consensus.”
because I know there are other people who are having difficulty,” Knight said. Student Brittany Arneson stood beside Central Avenue holding a sign that read, “Honk if you’re underpaid.” She said it’s not fair that hard-working students aren’t guaranteed jobs after they graduate. “Somebody who works their a** off to make the GPA I do has to worry about not being able to find a job,” she said. “I have one major and two minors and I constantly worry about that.” One student, Garrett Elders, stood on the sidewalk about 50 feet away from the campsite to protest the protesters’ occupation of UNM. His sign read, “My tuition has to clean up after you.” He said the protesters weren’t treating the campus with respect. “You gang up and aren’t peaceful. I’m not going to say I support you guys,” he told protesters. “I come out here with my sign because my mom works very, very hard as a single mom to pay my tuition and her money is being wasted. Look at the campsite you guys left.” Arneson said protesters have developed a recycling system for the camp, and one of the rules of the campsite
dictates campers must keep their areas neat and throw away their trash. “Every morning we usually set up pretty early and we clean up our area so it looks nice around here, so we fold our sleeping bags and our tarps,” she said. Arneson said Sunday’s meeting lasted all day, and was spent a name change for the movement. The word “occupy” has negative connotations to some people, she said, because the United States was occupied by colonialists. “This country was occupied and taken from Native Americans and indigenous people,” she said. “Personally, I’m somebody who has white privilege. I don’t have a problem with it because I’m not indigenous and I’m not a minority. But I can see where they are coming from.” Knight said three people out of 75 voted against changing the name, so the name remains Occupy Albuquerque and the issue will be discussed at future meetings. Knight said UNM and the authorities have generally been supportive and respectful of the movement. “We have huge support from both UNM and CNM,” he said.
Protesters’ campsite home to homeless, democracy by Elizabeth Cleary and Chelsea Erven news@dailylobo.com
Blankets, sleeping bags, and homemade signs litter the ground at Yale Park, home of the Occupy Albuquerque protesters. Despite the chilly October air, some of the members stand in the street waving signs and shoutiing to passing drivers. The occasional motorist drives by and honks, and up on the grass protesters break into cheers. Occupy Albuquerque, which set up camp at UNM on Oct. 1, is a movement in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement, which protests corporate greed and its negative influence on society. On Saturday, protesters stormed into businesses such as the Bank of the West and Walmart and, according to authorities, became aggressive. Protester Hani Bargout was arrested on charges of battery, disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing. Protesters say their movement is a peaceful one, and that on a day-today basis activists focus on community outreach and support. Local resident Ty Knight was one
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“Somebody who works their a** off to make the GPA I do has to worry about not being able to find a job.” ~Brittany Arneson UNM student Knight said he was laid off from his job in June 2010, and that his unemployment benefits run dry in a few weeks. He said his own problems pale in comparison with the hardships others face in today’s difficult economic climate, and that he became active with Occupy Albuquerque in order to show his support for others. “I’m here to give this momentum
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