Thousands of people took to the streets of downtown Albuquerque on a cool and sunny Saturday afternoon to protest policies by the Trump administration.
shows crowds filled at least eight city blocks along Central Avenue, Second Street, and Lomas Boulevard over a two-hour period in the second No Kings protest this year. It was one of over to protest what organizers say are moves by the president that look more like a monarchy than a democracy.
The march was one of about 28 across the state, from larger metro areas such as Albuquerque and Santa Fe to rural communities like Embudo and Deming.
Protestors brought numerous causes to the event, with signs decrying immigration raids, calling for an end military support to Israel and support for health care, and pleas for civility and nonviolence. Many also called for the release of files related to the late .
The Republican Party of New Mexico issued a statement Saturday morning that the protest 鈥減romotes ideas that weaken our communities; mask and vaccine mandates, no school choice, poor educational standards, and growing government dependency. These policies don鈥檛 empower people; they control them.鈥�
They echoed other criticisms by national Republican leaders, .
But American flags were plentiful Saturday, with an occasional Mexican or Palestinian flag in the mix. There were also people dressed in patriotic garb, including the Statue of Liberty.
Jeremy, who did not want to give his last name, came dressed as Abraham Lincoln with his friend, Matt Rogers, who was dressed as Captain America.
鈥淚 believe democracy is in danger and Captain America is here to make sure I don't get shot again,鈥� he said.
He carried a sign with a quote from the former president: 鈥淭hose who deny freedom to others deserve it, not for themselves.鈥�
He added that Lincoln was a Republican.
鈥淎nd I don't think he would approve of the beliefs and actions of the party today ,鈥� he said.
Rogers said many on the right have labeled the No Kings protest as anti-American. But he pointed out the many American flags among attendees, including the one on his back and on his shield.
鈥淪o if you want to say I'm not patriotic, that's a little hard to do. So, you know, we can say negative things about Trump while saying positive things about the country in general. If we didn't love America, we wouldn't be here, you know, we'd just stay home and let it happen,鈥� Rogers said. 鈥淏ut not on my watch, not on my watch. I don't like bullies.鈥�
Esther and Autumn, who did not want to use their last names, waved a large American flag as marchers streamed by.
鈥淚鈥檓 an American and this is a show of the United States of America and they can鈥檛 take that away from us,鈥� Esther said. 鈥淚 felt like I had to come and show support for our United States and we will not be divided by this current administration.鈥�
Autumn, who is trans, said trans rights is a big part of why she came out to the protest.
鈥淚鈥檓 scared and I want to show support for my community,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 believe in our freedom and I believe we can get it back.鈥�
Doug Anderson walked down Lomas with a large yellow Gadsen flag that has a coiled rattlesnake and the phrase 鈥淒on鈥檛 Tread On Me.鈥� It was created by colonists ahead of the Revolutionary War, but it鈥檚 been .
Anderson said the meaning of this and the American flag have been twisted.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the American Revolution, you know, no more kings? It seemed appropriate for this,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou keep taking away our rights and we will strike back.鈥�
Angelica McCants came with her son and they held a sign with a photo of her father in uniform, Federico Rivera, that read 鈥淎ntifa since WW2.鈥�
鈥淲e have a lot of ancestors in this country who fought against fascism so we鈥檙e taking it back,鈥� she said of the to criticize the protests and label them as events created by shadowy groups.
Matt Rogers (Captain America) echoed her thoughts in an email to 九色网 after the march. His father and his uncles fought in World War II, and one uncle was killed at the Battle of the Bulge.
"Too many American and allied soldiers fought and were wounded and killed fighting facism and totalitarianism for us to now decide as a nation that we were on the wrong side," he wrote. "I know my father, who passed away in 2010, would be ashamed of this government had he lived to see it. The torch has been passed to us defend democracy, and the thousands of marchers in Albuquerque and the millions around the country have taken up that torch.
Dean Strassburger and Michael Polikoll watched from the sidewalk while Strassburger held a sign that said 鈥淯se your voice not your gun.鈥� The two attended the No Kings protest in June and the Hands Off protest earlier in the year, but said this one was much larger and it made them more hopeful.
鈥淎nd it鈥檚 much more excited and more positive,鈥� Strassburger said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e being positive here.鈥�
