Just returned from Albuquerque protest. Many arrested; mostly peaceful & fun

[Voice for Peace]

Ridiculously huge police presence. One troublemaker in crowd triggered a problem, I was across the street and didn't see it but the riot police got all excited and rushed over there with their pepper spray and billy clubs. I heard a TV reporter was among those who got the pepper spray.

[Voice for Peace]

1. video of Occupy Albuquerque Oct 25 2011 | SWAT team lined up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSJxWz2HqU4

It's very dark unfortunately. I was standing in front of these guys for a long time and they were quite colorful with their costumes, helmets, clobbersticks.

[Voice for Peace]

2. I think around 25 were arrested (intentionally, and peacefully)

There was a group of somewhat inebriated native americans sitting on the corner, drumming and singing beautifully. It gave a kind of ancient & passionate feeling to the whole thing. The human longing for freedom and justice.

[Voice for Peace]

3. videos from last night, before & during police presence

http://motleynews.net/2011/10/26/occupy-albuquerque-oct-25-2011-police-move-in-occupyburque-ows/

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. K&R.

[Voice for Peace]

5. 37 were arrested

http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/blog-3119-37-arrests-at-%28un%29occupy-albuquerque.html

At a 6 pm general assembly, (Un)Occupy members gathered to discuss their options. Ben Warren, a protester who was in attendance and has been active with the movement in past weeks, says the movement decided to continue demonstrating at the park, even without a permit.

Warren says that as the 10 pm deadline approached, approximately 60 police cars—about half from Albuquerque Police Department and half from the university's police force—surrounded the park.

-snip-

Despite appeals from protesters and even state Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, Blair says UNM officials have not, to her knowledge, received another permit extension request from protesters or considered offering them a permit renewal.

(Un)Occupy Albuquerque will meet again tonight at 6 pm in Yale Park to discuss its future plans. "One thing's for sure: We're not going away," Warren says.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

6. Thank you for your participation!

:hi:

[Voice for Peace]

8. honestly, it was so much fun. I'm really glad I went.

[Taverner]

7. Bet you that "troublemaker" had a badge

[Voice for Peace]

9. pepper spray video from last night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeWtsDBpvoE

[madamesilverspurs]

10. Lived south of UNM in the 1970s,

Coal Ave., I think. One day we were just heading up to join a protest when we caught a breeze carrying tear gas; had we not overslept we'd have likely gotten a face full.

Back then, the park across the street (Roosevelt Park?, long time ago) was the locale for a number of spontaneous gatherings; lots of bucket drums, people doing hill-rolls ala Harold and Maude, speeches, etc.

Wish I could join you!

[Voice for Peace]

11. Update re Occupation Albuquerque

People gathered again today at Yale Park to exercise their 1st amendment rights & have a General Assembly. Police (UNM & State Police I think) in large numbers again showed up and said people had to leave, were not allowed to gather there, would be arrested if didn't move to the sidewalk. Then the police occupied the park, so nobody else could.

Protesters moved across the street for GA and were voting on where to meet & how to proceed tomorrow but I had to leave before it was all decided. Cold rain was a'falling too but those kids... they stand in the cold rain in tshirts and don't seem to notice.

[Voice for Peace]

12. PHOTOS from yesterday's arrests etc.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150353885989151.354524.780854150&type=1