Civil rights activists rally Downtown

March in support of Black Lives Matter goes off without incident

Hundreds of activists gathered in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in Downtown Albuquerque on Friday evening.

The crowd assembled outside Century 14 theater at Central and First SW, holding signs that read “De-militarize the Police,” “Black and Brown Lives Matter” and “De-colonize Albuquerque” among others.

“A lot of the time I get the question, ‘Why do we march?’ ” said protest organizer Nikki Archuleta. “We march to broaden and demand the conversations and actions taken around state violence, to include all the ways in which black people are intentionally left powerless at the hands of the state and white supremacists.”

Protesters marched, the crowd

swelling to more than 200 people, down Central chanting, “Hands up, Don’t shoot” and “Whose streets? Our streets,” sayings that have become familiar through the Black Lives Matter movement

Police blocked off adjacent streets to keep traffic out of the area, while helicopters whirred overhead.

Once the march reached the roundabout at Eighth and Central, a megaphone was offered to many who took the chance to speak out, read poetry and tell stories related to police brutality, racism, the Black Lives Matter movement and other such topics.

The protest appeared peaceful — no violence or vandalism was seen involving demonstrators or onlookers — as the crowd remained firm and focused on the march and message.

Over than an hour later, the protest returned to where it started, at First and Central, and, after more chants and expressions of gratitude to those who came out, the crowed dispersed into the night.

Concerns over the protest caused some area businesses and local government offices to close early on Friday.

Both Bernalillo County offices and Tucanos Brazilian Grill, among others, sent out statements about the early closures.

The closures disrupted early voting at the City Clerk’s Office at the Plaza del Sol building at 600 Second NW. Early voting was supposed to have been open there until 6 p.m.