The Palestinian flag was planted at the center of the Las Cruces Downtown Plaza, surrounded by drums, luminarias, and portraits of victims of the genocide in Gaza. Las Cruces for Palestine held its ‘Vigil for Palestine’ on Oct. 5 before the two-year anniversary of the Gaza War.
Las Cruces for Palestine is a local advocacy group in support of the liberation, sovereignty, and human rights of the Palestinian people. Since the beginning of the Gaza War on Oct. 7, 2023, students across U.S. colleges, including NMSU, have protested in solidarity of the Palestinian cause and against U.S. financial and political backing of the Israeli military.
According to the United Nations and the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll in the Gaza Strip is estimated to be 67,173 people, as of Oct. 7, 2025. However, the actual number may be higher.
On Sept. 30, Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District cosponsored H.R.3565 or the Block the Bombs Act, after a discussion with Las Cruces for Palestine. This House bill proposes to limit the transfer of weaponry to Israel. Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District introduced the legislation on May 21.
On Oct. 8, President Donald Trump announced on social media that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire agreement.
The use of luminarias at a vigil is a part of New Mexico’s culture. Community member Sylvia Yancey said this form of local cultural expression was a powerful showcase of solidarity with Palestinians.
“I think we need moments like this to grieve,” Yancey said. “To come together, share our thoughts, share poetry, and share artwork. You know these banners we make, the pictures we put together, even just like the setup of a vigil is a piece of artwork in showing our grief for what is happening.”
Las Cruces for Palestine organizer, Jovanny Hernandez, said people in the Las Cruces region are tied up with the ongoing crisis in Gaza because of drone testing. He expressed how it should motivate New Mexicans to speak up for Palestinians.
“One of the biggest industries here in southern New Mexico, and one where a lot of people from Cruces and all around the area, in the little towns and colonias, work directly or indirectly with [is] the military bases in Alamogordo,” Hernandez said. “And that is actually the home of where they do a lot of drone pilot testing.”
Las Cruces for Palestine organizer Abegail Salugsugan added onto Hernandez’s comments. She mentioned the usage of blimps for surveillance.
“Right by Santa Teresa; they have this big blimp that goes around for surveillance at the border,” Salugsugan said. “So, this Palestinian director named Monear Shaer filmed ‘Gaza is Our Home,’ and we had the opportunity to talk with him. He talked about the blimps and some of the other same technology and strategies that they use in Palestine.”
Salugsugan said that the Borderlands and Palestine are also connected through their struggles of being oppressed.
“It’s very easy to see that connection between what’s happening here in the Borderlands and in Palestine as well,” Salugsugan said. “And I feel like the people here are a lot more active and very ready to mobilize. Because we see it here at first hand with the ICE raids that are happening and seeing the kidnapping of our community members. There are different strategies, but it is nothing new. It’s been done in Palestine, and it will continue to happen.”
