Police arrested 16 individuals following an incident at the University of New Mexico Student Union Building early Tuesday morning. The university officials reported that Palestinian supporters, who had been peacefully protesting at the UNM Duck Pond for a week, were involved in the incident.
According to UNM spokesperson Steve Carr, more than two dozen protestors attempted to occupy the Student Union Building around 6:30 p.m. on Monday. They unlawfully remained in the building past closing time and proceeded to vandalize the premises by damaging furniture, walls, and doors. Graffiti was found on various surfaces, including banisters, walls, and bathrooms, created using markers, paint, and chalk.
Carr mentioned that some protestors even barricaded doors with chairs and tables. The vandalism extended beyond the Student Union Building, with graffiti spray-painted across the campus. Additionally, students trying to study in the building were verbally harassed by the protestors.
New Mexico State Police and UNM police intervened around 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday, removing tents and escorting the protestors out of the building. In a statement released by the university, officials condemned the incident, stating that the takeover of the student union building was unacceptable. They emphasized that what began as a protest turned into criminal activity, as the individuals engaged in entering, remaining in, and damaging the SUB after hours.
