Police arrest several pro-Palestinian protesters at the UNM duck pond

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Police arrested several pro-Palestinian protesters at the duck pond on the UNM campus Wednesday morning.

Authorities reportedly arrested at least four people. New Mexico State Police were seen wearing riot gear after moving in and demolishing camps.

UNM officials asked protesters to leave the duck pond by 5 p.m. Tuesday. Instead, protesters redoubled their efforts and continued into Wednesday morning.

UNM President Garnett S. Stokes sent an email to all Lobos on Tuesday afternoon. She explained that while the university supports peaceful protests, the encampments violated several school policies.

Stokes raised the following safety concerns:

To date, we have tolerated several serious policy violations at UNM Duck Pond. While we recognize and respect the right to protest and express diverse viewpoints, the Duck Pond encampment raised several critical concerns, including:

1. Restricting access to this public space to others who wish to use it.
2. Harassment and harassment of UNM employees who are committed to maintaining our campus.
3. Creating safety concerns by erecting unsafe structures (e.g., wires, posts, and pallets), Engaging in illegal activities (e.g., indecent exposure, harassment, and battery) Reports of theft (multiple reports through UNM EthicsPoint, reports to UNMPD, Instagram). posting), public urination and defecation, and drug and alcohol use.
4. Related vandalism on campus, including spray-painted graffiti.
5. Increasing UNM policy violations:

   A. Regents Policy 2.1: Free Expression and Advocacy

   2. Regents Policy 2.6: Drug-Free Environment
   3. Regents Policy 2.8: Visitors to the University
   4. Regents Policy 4.2: Student Code of Conduct
   5. Regents Policy 7.9: Property Management
   6. UAP Policy 2140: Use and Possession of Alcohol on University Property
   7. UAP Policy 2220: Freedom of Speech and Expression
   8. UAP Policy 2240: Respectful Campus
   9. UAP Policy 2270: Camping
   10. UNM Pathfinder: Student Code of Conduct
   11. UNM Pathfinder: Code of Conduct for Visitors

KOB 4 has a crew at the duck pond. We will update this as we learn more.