Council Watch: 33 Percent Backs The 99%

\ Oct 20, 2011

2 min read

Councilor Rey Garduño made it known that he supports Albuquerque’s demonstrators and the philosophy behind the worldwide protests.

“I was elected by the people not the banks,” he said. “It is amazing how this movement has grown. We need to lift it up because they are speaking for all of us.”

He presented a proclamation at the Monday, Oct. 17 meeting declaring that the Council recognizes “We are the 99%, and we stand with the Occupy Wall Street movement.”

Amalia Montoya told the Council she is a home- and business-owner who is putting kids through college. “I am in the 99 percent. Look at me,” she said. “See me. The revolution is coming.” Montoya helped organize the Saturday, Oct. 1 march [“Burque Occupied,” Oct. 6-12].

Only two other councilors joined Garduño in putting their name on the proclamation: Isaac Benton and Ken Sanchez. That means one-third—or about 33 percent of the Council—supports the movement. The other six councilors did not comment on their reasons for refusing to sign the symbolic measure.

Garduño said he wanted to commend the University of New Mexico and the Albuquerque Police Department for the way they’ve handled the protesters.

“I’ve been there every day, and the police have made sure they [the demonstrators] are safe,” Garduño said. “APD is doing the right thing.”