Police arrest '(Un)Occupy Albuquerque' protesters
Posted at: 10/25/2011 9:58 PM | Updated at: 10/26/2011 9:11 AM
It was a night of chaos at the University of New Mexico as protesters with "(Un)Occupy Albuquerque” refused to leave Yale Park despite university orders to do so.
The group's permit expired at 10 p.m. Tuesday - and protestors decided the only way they’d leave is by force.
Police showed up in full riot gear and arrested 31 people who refused to leave.
They also used pepper spray to get them to disperse.
Our Gadi Schwartz was there throughout the night... tweeting updates and catching all of the action on camera.
"I'm a student here and I don't think it's fair that UNM didn't grant us permission to stay here. Especially because part of my tuition goes to maintain this park," said one protestor.
"Those police officers should be at home with their families, not spending overtime to get these people off university property."
As for the protestors’ next step - that's not clear.
Some have said they'll be back on campus Wednesday for a general assembly meeting at 6 p.m. At that point, they may choose a new spot to protest.
The “(Un)Occupy Albuquerque” movement began October 1st as part of a nationwide “Occupy Wall Street” protest against corporate greed and inequality. It started with a march on Central, and that night protestors set up camp at University and Central. UNM then ordered them to get a permit. They did, but then they were asked to move and that's when protesters moved to Yale Park.
Stay with KOB Eyewitness News 4 and KOB.com for more developments on this story as it continues to unfold.
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