Albuquerque Protest to Abolish APD

A protest organized by the local chapter of Fight For Our Lives was held outside of the Albuquerque Police Department Headquarters on Friday night. The organization along with the Brown Berets, La Hermandad, and The Southwest Freedom Council of The Red Nation among many others, called for immediate police reform in the wake of a string of officer-involved shootings.

Their message was clear: An end to police brutality and systemic injustice affecting Albuquerque’s marginalized communities. (Anthony Jackson | La Tonique)

There were well over a hundred people in attendance. Cars associated with the protest were organized to block off the street for the safety of the protestors (a lesson learned from the previous summer’s protests). Signs calling for either the abolishment or defunding of Albuquerque’s police force were abundant. 

The protest began with impassioned speeches by representatives of attending organizations. Their message was clear: An end to police brutality and systemic injustice affecting Albuquerque’s marginalized communities. 

Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III and Mayor Tim Keller were heavily criticized in a number of speeches on the pace and questionable progress that recent police reforms and community outreach programs have had. Many in the crowd shared these grievances and called for more effective measures to combat police brutality and continued persecution of marginalized communities.

After the first round of speeches, the protest proceeded to the courthouses. Officers shadowed the protestors and closed off Lomas to traffic. Organizers kept a vigilant eye on the officers. The presence of APD emboldened many in attendance and many of the protestors held their signs ever so higher.

More representatives of attending organizations made speeches, with many calling for communities to organize and make their voices heard. The protest ended without any confrontation with law enforcement or counter-protesters.