A week has passed since the Las Cruces for Palestine group, consisting of students and community members, set up an encampment at Aggie Forest.
On Thursday, May 2, a group of around 50 protesters marched from the Corbett Center Student Union Outdoor Stage to the horseshoe for their second march, named “NMSU Student and Faculty Walkout for Palestine”.
They invited all community members to join them as they marched and repeated the demands and resolutions they are seeking.
“It means a lot to see people come out and stand in solidarity and stand on the right side of history like that. It’s heartwarming to see where actions especially here on campus, because student movements historically that’s where, whether you like to believe it or not, that’s where major change is happening — the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War protests, the Iraq War protests,” said a student protester who wished to remain anonymous.
“All of these were, for a large part of time, student led. And this is just a space where people have the opportunity and the education to make a serious statement.”
As protests continue at college campuses across the country, the protesters are calling for NMSU and other educational institutions in New Mexico to divest all funds that support Israel.
The demonstration in support of the Palestinian people emphasized the importance of keeping all protests peaceful.
The protesters said that other activists are affected by violence on other campuses like the University of New Mexico, but are encouraged that their efforts have remained peaceful at NMSU. They also highlighted the urgency of calling local government officials to vote for a ceasefire resolution.
University administration reached out to the group of protesters and started conversation after receiving their letter taken to Hadley Hall on Monday, April 29.
In a message to the university on Wednesday, Mónica Torres, NMSU’s new interim president, addressed the recent protests and said that the American people have the right to protest peacefully and that public universities have a duty to protect this right.
She also stated that efforts are being made to maintain security on campus, and that a team of university leaders met with the protesters after they camped out to foster an open dialogue and ensure that their voices are heard.
One faculty member involved in the movement mentioned that little information was disclosed, but that the dialogue remains open; although, the group is primarily seeking a resolution from the City Council on their ceasefire demand.
“They’ve been studying for the exams. I’m checking on them. And they’re okay. Everybody in the community brings some food and drinks and they’re doing well,” said Palestinian professor and co-founder of the Department of Borderlands and Ethnic Studies, Manal Hamzeh.
“NMSU is setting an example of beauty, how they listen to their students,” she added. “How they open the space for free speech and continue to learn and teach the students. “We are showing a different way of dealing with this crisis — with this genocide — differently than any other university. This is going to shine a light on how NMSU is an incredible space for students on all levels for them to learn and for them to teach and do their research.”
Through their Instagram page yesterday, the Las Cruces for Palestine organization shared a letter from NMSU’s interim president emphasizing the groups’ right to free speech along with the fostering of an open dialogue and academic freedom.
The letter also mentions the lack of “international footprint” the university has, regarding investments, exchange programs and research collaborations.
NMSU claims that the university does not have any direct investments with educational institutions outside of the United States. A copy of the institution’s financial investments was also disclosed.
Interim President Mónica Torres also made mention of the safety concerns the university has for overnight camping and advised the members of the encampment to consider other peaceful means to continue their efforts. Torres stated that the group will be contacted to further their dialogue after final exams are over.
The group also shared their discontent with the most recent City Council Meeting. They mentioned their disgust with the City Council members, including mayor Eric Enriquez who voted to remove the Ceasefire Resolution from Monday’s agenda.
