About 150 Rally Outside Albuquerque Jewish Community Center Over Israeli Consul General's Visit

About 150 people gathered outside the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque on Monday evening to protest an appearance by Livia Link-Raviv, the Israeli Consul General of the Southwest. Demonstrators braved chilly, overcast weather as they walked in a circle carrying signs.

A flag at the center's entrance read "Zionism is Genocide. Free Palestine." Behind it, Siihasin Hope led chants that included "Occupation is a crime," "We are all Palestinians" and "Long Live Palestine." As the sun set, protesters kept marching with signs reading "Bombing Kids is not self-defense" and chanting "No justice, no peace."

During the demonstration, a black Chevy Silverado tried to turn onto a street leading to the community center parking lot. After stopping briefly, the driver moved slowly through several protesters and got past them. No one appeared to be hurt. Bill Tiwald, a member of Veterans for Peace who saw what happened, said he planned to go to the police so they could investigate. "They could have really hurt someone," he said.

The crowd was a coalition that included members of Jewish Voice for Peace, Anti-Fascist Action and the Quaker community. Protesters wanted the event canceled, as Link-Raviv's earlier engagements in Santa Fe and Houston were. Their objections were based in part on an October 2023 interview with a Houston media outlet in which she said there was no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. "There is a speaker here who is denying the genocide that is going on," protester Jerome Chavez said.

The Jewish Community Center announced that it had closed its doors at 4 p.m. for a "last minute special event requiring the full attention of our staff on hand." John Wertheim of the Jewish Community Relations Coalition said the event was private and that it was wrong for protesters to try to shut it down. "But they were unsuccessful," he said.

Sara Lowry, who attended the protest, used to teach folk dance at the center but left in October when the Israel-Hamas war began. "I was so conflicted, the people at the JCC are loving, caring people, but they're not willing to break with Israel's tough stand on genocide," she said.

Charles Howell, an Air Force veteran, also joined the demonstration. He said he was once ready to fight during the Cold War and now cringes at the thought that he was prepared to destroy the world without a second thought. "I think it's always better to try and work this out," he said.

Wertheim said that during the event Link-Raviv spoke about how people want to see the conflict end. He said any solution would require empathy and understanding between people.

Santa Fe resident Rahima Schmall said the issue is important enough that "we have to keep bringing it to the public eye."