Police arrest several pro-Palestinian protesters at UNM’s duck pond

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

Authorities have reportedly arrested at least four people. New Mexico State Police were seen wearing riot gear after raiding and breaking down encampments.

UNM officials asked protesters to leave the duck pond Tuesday at 5 p.m. Protesters instead stepped up their efforts and continued into Wednesday morning.

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

Stokes outlined the following safety concerns:

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

1. Restricting access to this public space for others who wish to use it.
2. Disrupting and harassing UNM employees who are committed to preserving our campus.
3. Creating safety problems by erecting unsafe structures (e.g. wires, poles and pallets), engaging in illegal activities (e.g. indecent exposure, harassment and injuries) reports of theft (multiple reports via UNM EthicsPoint, reports to UNMPD, Instagram posts), public urination and defecation, and use of drugs and alcohol.
4. Associated campus vandalism, including spray-painted graffiti.
5. Increasing violations of UNM policy:

   A. Regents Policy 2.1: Free Speech 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: Real Estate Management
   6. UAP Policy 2140: Use and Possession of Alcohol on University Property
   7. UAP Policy 2220: Freedom of Speech and Dissent
   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.