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PHOTOS: Denver Police And Protesters Clash After Peaceful Protests All Day

Tensions between Denver Police and people protesting the death of George Floyd ratcheted up again Sunday night as clashes broke out. Protests were peaceful throughout the day but after the city’s 8 p.m. curfew police fired tear gas at protesters who were also throwing fireworks and other objects at them.

  At first the 8 p.m. curfew came and went without incident despite the hundreds of protesters still in front of the capitol, many of whom began howling and cheering. Around 8:25 p.m. the crowd began marching down the adjacent Colfax Avenue.

Minutes later, a few blocks down, several loud pops could be heard at the intersection of Colfax Ave. and Clarkson St. The sounds were a combination of tear gas coming from police and fireworks coming from individuals in the throng of protesters. It is unclear who instigated the clash as it was hard to see through the crowd and the smoke.

Police were present at the next intersection (Colfax Ave and Washington St) too. A group of protesters approached the police chanting “hands up, don’t shoot” while keeping their hands in the air. Police issued orders that were difficult to hear, but were telling protesters to vacate.

But soon after, clashes broke out. Protesters ran and walked down Colfax chanting George Floyd’s name and other rallying cries decrying the mistreatment and deaths of black Americans at the hands of police.

Before the escalation, Sunday’s protest started just before noon and continued all day, remaining peaceful throughout. Protesters did confront a large group of police near the Denver Police Administration Building at Cherokee St. and 14th Ave at around 5:40 p.m., but after some chants like “why are you in riot gear, I don’t see a riot here,” the protesters left without incident. DPD sayssix people were arrested during the day on weapons charges.

 

As KUNC’s rural and small communities reporter, I help further the newsroom’s efforts to ensure that all of Northern Colorado’s communities are heard.
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