Community members march to NM congressional delegation offices, calling for cease-fire in Gaza

Vietnam veteran Chuck Winat has seen firsthand what war does to a civilian population, which gives him an intimate understanding of what the citizens of Gaza must be going through as the Israel-Hamas war enters its third week.

“Having seen war against civilians when I was in Vietnam, it kind of gives me an idea of what they’re doing over there,” Winat said Monday. He was one of the more than 150 people who marched from Robinson Park to Sen. Martin Heinrich’s Downtown office at 400 Gold SW.

This was one of two known marches in New Mexico on Monday calling for a cease-fire. Demonstrators also marched to the offices of Sen. Ben Ray Luján and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández in Santa Fe.

Those marching were calling on the members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation to release a statement calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and to allow humanitarian aid to be distributed to those in need. The march comes in the wake of President Joe Biden’s address to the nation over the weekend, when he called upon Congress to approve over $100 billion in aid for both Israel and Ukraine.

“The people who are here answered a call from Jewish-American, New Mexicans, and fellow Jews and allies to come out and basically say ‘cease-fire,’’ Alan Wagman, a volunteer, said. “It’s time to stop the killing, get food, water, fuel and all humanitarian supplies into Gaza and start a process for ending this stuff.”

Amelia Paradise, who described herself as the spokesperson for an unaffiliated diverse group of Jewish people and allies, said another such group met with Heinrich on Thursday to discuss their concerns about the war and their request for a cease-fire.

“We found his response insufficient,” Paradise said. “So we want to encourage him to release a strong statement supporting the cease-fire.”

Caty Payette, a spokesperson for Heinrich’s office later clarified that the meeting on Thursday was held with office staff only and Heinrich was not in attendance. When asked for a response to Monday’s march, Payette said, “considering this is an ongoing situation, we will not be providing further comment at this time.”

Albuquerque police said late Monday that nine people were escorted from Lujan and Heinrich’s offices in Albuquerque “after they refused to voluntarily leave the buildings, which were closed for the day.”

“Police officers worked with protest organizers to try to get them to leave the offices voluntarily,” APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said in a news release.

Five protesters at Lujan’s office, on Marquette, received criminal trespass notifications and citations for criminal trespass and agreed to leave with officers, as did those at Heinrich’s office on Gold, Gallegos said.

“All nine protesters were walked out of the buildings,” Gallegos said. “No force was used and nobody was placed in (handcuffs).”