On June 8, community members marched from the Rio Bravo Riverside Picnic Area to the Rail Yards Market to protest the Israeli blockade of all entrances to the Gaza Strip, where close to half a million people are facing acute malnutrition, starvation, illness and death as of May 12, according to the World Health Organization .

Protesters carrying signs with scenes from the war in Gaza took one lane along with vehicles supplied with hydration and medical supplies. When the walk concluded at the Rail Yards Market, protesters confronted and questioned Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller about Albuquerque's sister city relationship with Rehovot, Israel.

“A lot of the marches are becoming repetitive, and as far as raising awareness, we've done a lot of it, but the siege on Gaza is still happening,” Sophie LaBorwit, a participant in the walk, said. “There is mass, forced starvation, and the situation right now is really dire.”

LaBorwit said the march was autonomously planned and they hope this march “breaks the mold” in what is possible for activism and raising awareness for Palestine.

The march coincided with Keller's mayoral campaign activities at the Railyards Market.

Protestors approached Keller about ending Albuquerque’s sister city relationship with Rehovot, Israel, which was signed in 2008 by former mayor Martin Chávez, according to Albuquerque Sister Cities Foundation .

The Albuquerque Sister Cities Program, led by the non-profit organization the Albuquerque Sister Cities Foundation, seeks to foster friendship, cooperation and mutual respect as well as collaboration in education, arts, culture and economic development between Albuquerque and its 11 sister cities, according to the City of Albuqueruque .

Keller responded by telling protesters he is interested in establishing a sister city relationship with Palestine.

“I'm deeply concerned about whether it's genocide or the apartheid setup and everything that's happening,” Keller told The Daily Lobo.

Keller said he doesn’t think ending a sister city relationship will change anything “with respect to what’s happening,” he said.

“What I want is a sister city in Palestine,” Keller said. “It would be more symbolic to see a sister city with Palestine.”

Keller said it's difficult as a mayor to help with large changes such as a ceasefire.

“I think it's naive to think that a mayor can do much, so I try and stand in solidarity for ceasefire, for any war crimes, and for telling the truth about the situation,” Keller said. “I think these actions need to be taken by national governments, and that's also where our focus should be.”

Sarah Finkel, a community member who participated in the walk, said she thinks ending the sister city relationship with Rehovot would make a statement.

“I think that (Keller) is getting confused about what power he actually has and what complicity he actually has to continue the sister city relationship with Rehovot,” Finkel said. “If he is going to do anything to make a statement about the thousands of lives that have been lost, he could end the sister city relationship.”

Protesters gathered at the railyards market and talked to passers by about the starvation in Gaza.

“Palestinians are still fighting for their lives, even through bombing, starvation, losing their children, their mothers, their fathers, losing their limbs,” Finkel said. “They are still struggling to survive, and we as humans, we as US citizens, are responsible for the weapons that are going over to bomb them.”