'We decided to get a little annoying': UNM says 16 arrested at pro-Palestinian occupation of Student Union Building

The student union at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque is closed, and the university is cleaning up after more than a dozen protesters occupied the building late Monday night into the early hours of Tuesday morning.

UNM spokeswoman Cinnamon Blair said Tuesday afternoon that 16 pro-Palestinian protesters — five UNM students and 11 who “don’t appear to be UNM-related” — were arrested after standing toe-to-toe with New Mexico State Police officers at the student union early Tuesday morning.

Court records show all 16 were charged with criminal trespass and wrongful use of public property, and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. All but two had been released by Tuesday afternoon.

Blair said force was used by at least one officer on a protester who was not complying and resisting arrest. She said all uses of force by the University of New Mexico Police Department will be documented by the department.

Lt. Philip Vargas, a State Police spokesman, said the agency was asked to “assist with managing the protest” by UNM police. He said State Police is currently reviewing body cameras to “verify any use of force” involving its officers.

Blair said there were no reported injuries.

She said, in a release, “What began as protest ended in criminal acts.”

“A group of persons marched across campus in protest, but then entered the UNM (Student Union Building) and declared their intent to occupy the building until their demands were met,” Blair said. “They remained unlawfully in the building past closing time and proceeded to vandalize the building, damaging furniture, walls, and doors, writing graffiti with markers, paint, and chalk, on the walls, on banisters, in bathrooms, and more.”

She said graffiti was also spray-painted across the campus, and students trying to study in the SUB “were verbally harassed.” Blair called the protesters’ actions “unacceptable.”

About 30 protesters camped inside the SUB from about 6:30 p.m. Monday until 2:55 a.m. Tuesday, when a UNM police officer on a bullhorn announced protesters needed to leave the student union or they would be arrested.

“Force may be used,” he said.

Timeline of events

Some protesters barricaded doors with chairs and tables, while others made obscene gestures and yelled expletives at the officer who gave the order.

At about 3:30 a.m., more than 40 State Police and UNM police officers went upstairs in the SUB, where they were greeted by protesters.

After a few minutes, the officers removed tents while protesters shouted pro-Palestinian chants like “Free, Free Palestine.” Some banged empty water coolers like drums; others screamed in front of some of the officers and used storage bin covers as shields.

A few minutes later, officers started pushing some of the protesters. During the melee, at least a couple of people were reportedly pepper-sprayed and detained.

“Holy (expletive),” a few people shouted as the incident was taking place.

After the protesters left, they congregated and set up camp outside the SUB.

“Be proud of yourselves,” Selinda Guerrero said to the other protesters. “The resistance was strong.”

Early Tuesday, UNM staff members were still trying to assess everything that happened.

Blair told the Journal at 8:45 a.m. that she believes there was “quite a bit of damage to the student union.”

Blair said the school is trying to assess whether to press charges and/or take disciplinary action.

‘We decided to get a little annoying’

On Monday, the UNM Gaza Solidarity Encampment continued, with protesters camping out at the Duck Pond.

Protester and UNM physics undergrad Max Stiriner said about 150 protesters left the Duck Pond — where they have camped since last week — at 6:30 p.m. Monday to occupy the student union, adding that the figure dropped to about 30 as the evening went along.

Inside the building, messages such as “Solidarity” and “Free Palestine” were scrawled in chalk on walls, doors and chairs.

Like many protesters on campuses across the country, those at UNM are asking school administrators to divest themselves from companies that support Israel.

As taxpayers, Stiriner said, “We are responsible, in part, for the war.”

“It’s our responsibility to try to make it so we stop supporting the war,” he added.

Since the school administration has not responded to the demands, Stiriner said, “We decided to get a little annoying.

“So, now they are listening.”

Blair texted the Journal late Monday, saying the school was monitoring the situation.

At about 8:30 p.m. Monday, UNM students and faculty received a LoboAlert text message saying they should avoid the SUB.

About 20 police vehicles arrived, with some blocking parts of Yale. However, they did not immediately go to the SUB.

At about 11:30 p.m., in anticipation of police showing up at the SUB, speakers talked to the protesters about the possibility of being arrested.

Stiriner told the Journal that many students were prepared to face the possibility of being cited or arrested.

“UNM has long served as a place where free speech and the right to engage in peaceful protest have been permitted and protected — but only up to the point where such protest substantially disrupts university operations or crosses the line to criminal acts,” Blair said in a release.

She said those who occupied the SUB “were not peacefully protesting, they were engaged in criminal activity by entering, remaining in, and damaging the SUB after its closing hours.”

Photos: New Mexico State Police and UNM PD arrest pro-Palestinian protesters occupying Student Union building at UNM

Protesters removed from UNM student union: 20+ pictures