On Thursday night, protests over the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer led to chaos in downtown Denver. The protest started peacefully at 5 p.m. at the Colorado State Capitol. However, someone fired shots near the Capitol just as the crowd started marching toward the 16th Street Mall. From there, the crowd splintered across the city, more people rushed downtown and police fired tear gas cannisters, pepper balls and flash-bang grenades to break up the crowds. Protesters tried to block traffic on Interstate 25, threw rocks at officers, painted graffiti on the Capitol and smashed windows of businesses and vehicles.
Denver Post reporters Tiney Ricciardi, Saja Hindi and Elise Schmelzer were at the scene reporting. Here are some of their dispatches from protesters.
Aubrey Rose, RiNo resident and 18-year Army veteran
“I’m out here today because Americans’ constitutional rights are being ignored and for the first time in my life to utilize my constitutional right of peaceful protest. I’m out here with my dress blues on to signify I served this country. Every generation of my family has served in the military yet still we’re not treated with respect or anything. We’re just tired of it.
They’re blocking us off so the people that need to hear it, can’t hear it. The people over on Colfax are people of color. The people that need to hear this (expletive) are the people right here in the quickly gentrified Highlands. They’re blocking us so white people can’t hear the truth.
“That’s why America is America. It’s the only place on the face of the planet where your voice can be heard. It may take a while but that little piece of paper called the constitution forces our voice to be heard and it’s up to us to make sure they get heard.”
Leah Done, Aurora
“I drove out here just to be part of the protest. I think it’s really, really important that we make sure that we’re here for black lives and other people and justice.”
Done brought face shields to the protest. “ They’re just plastic. I want to be able to protect people who can’t protect themselves… a little bit of both. Who knows what’s going to happen.
“I think it’s more important than the pandemic right now. I think it’s been an issue for a really long time and we need change.”
Desmond Allen, Denver
“This has been happening for a long time and it feels like this is the only way to be heard.”
She said the tear gas felt unnecessary.
“I understand that they have a job to do, but it seemed like a pretty peaceful protest,” she said.
Kylie McCormack, Denver
“It’s like this mucus in your lung system and I’m just choking and sneezing the whole time, and I can’t imagine how they would just do this to innocent people.”
Faith Lattany, Denver
“That was excruciating. I can’t think of a better word for it. Even the aftermath, even after the smoke is kind of going away, your eyes are still burning.”
“It doesn’t matter if it happened in Minneapolis or anywhere else. It affects all of us because if one black person is getting hurt, then we’re all getting hurt.”