By KRWG News
Albuquerque – Organizers with Albuquerque's version of the national anti-Wall Street rallies are pressing city officials to allow them to move their protest to a city park following their eviction from the University of New Mexico campus.
The move comes after state police arrested around two dozen protesters this week and rallies in other cities and towns across New Mexico sought to expand their presence.
Albuquerque protesters met Thursday with Mayor Richard Berry about relocating to Robinson Park, but Berry did not make a decision. He told protesters he wanted to seek a balance between free speech and public safety.
Earlier this week, protesters were arrested at the UNM's Yale Park after school officials ordered the four-week-old protest site closed over safety concerns. New Mexico state police raided the spot late Tuesday and prevented protesters from returning to camp in the park. But protesters have returned to the sidewalk in front of the park every day since and held their nightly general assembly meetings across the street.
Members of the Albuquerque movement also scheduled a "First Amendment Solidarity March" and "funeral procession" on Saturday at the park. Organizers encouraged protesters to wear black and bring flags "to mourn the First Amendment" and sought to tie the event to the "Day of the Dead." They planned to march from Yale Park to Albuquerque's Civic Plaza.
Meanwhile, a protester continued his fourth-straight day on a hunger strike over UNM president David Schmidly's decision to close the protest site. Sebastian Pais said he would end his strike after the university president meets to protesters about the eviction.
"We're a little bit concern that there has been silence from President Schmidly," said Elaine Romero, a UNM doctoral student in education leadership. "But we're hopeful because certain faculty members are showing their support for Sebastian."
Meanwhile, protesters in Santa Fe announced this week that they had a permanent occupation site at the city's Railyard Park behind SITE Santa Fe after getting approval from city officials. Protesters there set up an online site where supporters can send tax-deductible donations.
Santa Fe Mayor David Coss this week stopped by the site to show support. Protesters there planned to rally in front of a Santa Fe Bank of America on Saturday, when their counterparts in Taos scheduled Saturday a "Youth Poetry and Speakout" at Kit Carson Park. Protesters will then hold a rally and general assembly in Taos Plaza.
Espanola demonstrators planned a walk-out next week among Northern New Mexico College students, which would be part of a national event.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.