ALBUQUERQUE, Nm., October 20, 2025: Miguel Juárez interviewed photographer Federico Villalba about his attendance at the Albuquerque No Kings protests near the Albuquerque convention center on Saturday. What follows is the full interview of Villalba by Juárez.
This past weekend El Paso Photographer Federico Villalba and I drove to Albuquerque to attend the Western History Association Conference which was held at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The Clyde was the conference hotel. While I attended meetings and presentations, Federico attended the No Kings event held in Downtown Albuquerque which was scheduled from 12 to 2 p.m. On our way back to El Paso on Saturday evening I had the opportunity to interview Federico and get a first-hand report of the event of the No Kings event in Albuquerque. His photographs accompany this interview.
No Kings Protest Albuquerque Invitation Poster, October 18, 2025, Miguel Juárez/El Paso Herald Post
Miguel Juarez (MJ): Tell me about the No Kings Events. How many locations were these held in the United States?
Federico Villalba (FV): They were held in approximately 2,700 locations in the US. In addition, as well as in other countries. It’s not George Soros or anything like that. It’s basically members of the community that basically care about the issues that want to make them known. People want to make a difference and speak out to what’s going on in the country.
MJ: How many people do you think attended the event in Albuquerque?
FV: It’s hard for me to say, because the crowds went far back. It was basically on Third and Central Streets in downtown Albuquerque. Central Street is one of the main drags in Albuquerque. They gathered everybody, and there were like several blocks of people. It was a lot of people.
MJ: Do you think it was bigger than El Paso’s event?
FV: Yes. In El Paso, it was held at Edgemere Park, which is a very wide park area. Here in Albuquerque, it was along the sidewalk and in the street which is narrow. The people there were very enthusiastic. They had some great signs. They was a lot of color. The signs addressed different issues. There was also a lot of inflatable characters. It was neat.
MJ: What do you mean by inflatable characters?
FV: They sell these inflatables, rubber costumes (blow up costumes) that you basically step into and then you inflate them. You’re able to walk around in them. Some are characters like dinosaurs. There was a shark. They are all different. There were several chickens. I think there was a dove.
MJ: How much do they cost?
FV: I have no idea, but you can check Amazon. Okay.
MJ: Did you see people of all ages, including children and senior citizens?
FV: Yes, there were senior citizens, some in wheelchairs, younger people, some bicycles. There were families with young children. It was a family affair.
MJ: Did you see any of the organizers?
FV: The organizers were wearing yellow, but other people were also wearing yellow, so it was hard to see who the organizers were and who was there enjoying the event. There were many yellow ducks. It was a very colorful rally.
MJ: Were there any angry people there?
FV: Everyone was very cordial and considerate. People were joking around. There really wasn’t any attitude. Everybody was there for a purpose. It was a very peaceful protest. They weren’t there to cause trouble. They were not there to riot or yell at the police or anything like that.
MJ: Was there a large police presence?
FV: It was very minimal.
MJ: Did you get a sense that there were undercover police there?
FV: I didn’t see anybody you would think were undercover police. There were a couple of helicopters, but I think those may have been media.
MJ: Do you think it was well organized?
FV: It was very well organized. It started on Third Street, and then it looped around Downtown, then they came back, and I think they did two laps around the course.
MJ: Was it a walking March?
FV: Well, it was. They gathered and everybody was having fun. And then, after a while, they did a walk-in march.
MJ: Were there any legal observers there?
FV: I didn’t see any of those guys, but also there may have been some, but there were so many people that they may have been missed by me, but they were deep in the crowd where I couldn’t see.
MJ: This is the third or fourth “No Kings,” right.
FV: The first No Kings was in the summer.
MJ: This past summer?
FV: Yes.
MJ: Were there any people that did not want to be photographed?
FV: It didn’t seem like anyone wanted to hide. There were some people who had a mask on. They encouraged you not to be recognizable. At the same time, there were plenty of people who weren’t wearing masks, or they were wearing partial masks. But they weren’t worried about being recognized. Many of them had a progressive free spirit–those people were out in force.
MJ: Did you see small children in strollers?
FV: I saw toddlers who were in those wagons that they use for groceries or kids or picnic supplies. Those wagons had rally signs and were decorated. People really went all out. I saw this mother and daughter dressed in red and white, in “Where’s Waldo?” stripes. There were many other themes displayed there.
MJ: Was media there?
FV: I didn’t see people with any media badges there. There were a lot of people videotaping with their cell phones. There were some photographers there with Pro cameras, but it was hard for me to know whether they were with the media.
MJ: Do you have anything else you like to add to this short interview?
FV: Well, it was a peaceful and fun event and very spirited. People were very enthusiastic, and they left very happy. I guess, content. That felt that they had done their civic duty. There were a lot of American flags there. A few of people were veterans dressed in parts of their uniform. It was a very diverse, spirited, and enthusiastic group.
MJ: Thank you for this interview.
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