One man arrested after Albuquerque's latest Wall Street protest
Posted at: 10/08/2011 6:45 PM
| Updated at: 10/08/2011 10:43 PM
By: Stuart Dyson, KOB Eyewitness News 4
 Protesters have set up Camp Coyote at Yale Park on UNM campus. |
Protesters marched along Route 66 for the second weekend in a row, but the Occupy New Mexico protest left the streets and entered Albuquerque banks and business on Saturday.
"People decided to go in and let folks know that we're here, that we're not gonna be silent any more, and that we're gonna speak up," said marcher Tomas Garduno.
The Albuquerque Police Department said protesters did more than that.
"We had a small group, part of the protest, they went into some businesses, started spitting on people," said APD spokesman Patrick Ficke. "Some of the people were scared. They were videotaping them to give to us for evidence, and (protesters) were knocking those phones out of people's hands. People trying to call 9-1-1, they were knocking those phones away."
After the protest, police arrested Hani Barghout, 23, from Socorro.
It's unclear if he spit on anyone.
Barghout is charged with battery, disorderly conduct and criminal tresspassing.
Protesters admit they went inside, but they deny the assault claims.
"If somebody did that, then yeah - they should be held responsible for that," said protester Joel Gallegos. "But nobody should make judgments about that until the facts are set straight."
It's been a solid week of demonstrations for the New Mexico group.
They joined nationwide protests against Wall Street that started more than two weeks ago in New York City.
Many started camping near University and Central after the first protest.
UNM approved a permit for the protesters as long as they moved to another location on campus.
The protesters have set up a new campsite on the Yale Park near Yale and Central.
Saturday’s event started with a rally at UNM and headed eastbound toward the Bank of America at Central and San Mateo.
Police once again blocked traffic when the marchers walked along Central.
Protesters stopped to chant at Central and San Mateo and some marched to the nearby Wal-Mart.
Daniel Jones was inside the store when a large number of protesters walked inside with signs and chants against corporate greed.
"All of a sudden all kinds of people just walked right in and everybody opened up and moved out of the way," he said.
Jones said the protesters did not bother him or customers nearby.
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