Community organizers demand police accountability

A small group of people gathered on Friday across the street from Adam Food Market on East Central to demand police accountability, a week after Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle to avoid gunfire in the same area.

Medina was checking on an encampment when an unrelated fight nearby resulted in a gunshot.

Millions for Prisoners New Mexico called for a cease-and-desist of what it called “aggressive police tactics” in the International District and while interacting with homeless people around the city.

A few unhoused people attending the protest described their experiences of having belongings, including mementos, tents and shelter, thrown out. Armya Chavez said she lost a backpack that contained her father’s ashes while using the restroom. Chavez received a citation from APD on Tuesday.

Selinda Guerrero, a community organizer for the group, discussed rent increases and wage stagnation in the city, coupled with a lack of resources. Other speakers described long wait times for behavioral health services.

“This is unsustainable,” Guerrero said. “Wages have continued to be below the national average in Albuquerque. Anyone working a full-time, minimum wage job cannot afford rent here.”

The protest became tense when the owner of a nearby business joined the discussion.

Meliton Gonzalez has owned A-1 Equipment for six years. He said crime and homelessness in the area dried up his business, especially as fentanyl became increasingly affordable and accessible in the vicinity, creating a new barrier to accessing services. He described problems with trash and public defecation at his property.

“People come and give (people) food, they give them toiletries, whatever they need to survive — and that’s a good thing,” Gonzalez said. “But they don’t give them a trash can afterward.”

Gonzalez and one protester began shouting back and forth. But the situation was largely diffused when Christine Barber, who runs an organization helping women living on the street, asked Gonzalez how he would feel if there was a safe, outdoor location for homeless people to shelter and store their belongings. Barber said she attended the demonstration to “listen.”

“That would be the perfect situation,” Gonzalez said.

The protest dispersed with little further conflict.