CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (KDVR) — More protests occurred Tuesday in Colorado demanding justice and racial equality following the in-custody death of George Floyd. In addition to protests in downtown Denver, there were demonstrations in Aurora and Castle Rock as well as Colorado Springs.
Protests started five days ago. Monday’s protests were mostly peaceful throughout, even as the night progressed. Denver Police Department Chief Paul Pazen and at least one other DPD member walked arm-in-arm with protesters downtown Monday afternoon.
Prior to Monday, protests started off peaceful, but turned violent as the days progressed. Saturday was no exception, as rioters vandalized and set fires near the Capitol and in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
On Saturday, Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock announced a curfew of 8 p.m. until 5 a.m from Saturday night into Sunday morning and Sunday night into Monday morning.
Hancock also requested the support of the Colorado National Guard on Saturday, which was approved by Gov. Jared Polis.
On Sunday, protesters continued to gather in downtown Denver. FOX31 reporters said that protests felt mainly peaceful throughout the day and into the evening.
Some protesters did not abide by the 8 p.m. curfew and disruption occurred.
Police had to utilize tear gas, pepper balls and flash bangs after rocks and fireworks were thrown towards them.
On Monday, Hancock announced a new curfew from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. each night through Friday morning.
Below are live updates from Tuesday’s events as they occurred. This blog is no longer being updated:
Tuesday, June 2
10:44 p.m.
Tonight’s protests have remained peaceful.
Demonstrators marched through much of downtown. At one point, they stopped near 20th and Stout streets and held a nine-minute moment of silence for George Floyd.
9:20 p.m.
With curfew in effect, hundreds of protesters remain downtown. They have started marching from the Capitol and into the Central Business District.
8:54 p.m.
A group of veterans is guarding the Fallen Heroes memorial near the state Capitol. It had been vandalized several times since Thursday.
8:29 p.m.
The Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, the County Sheriffs of Colorado and the Colorado Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement calling on state lawmakers to make it a crime when officers fail to intervene in cases of unreasonable force.
The organizations are demanding “duty to intervene language” to be codified into law.
“We are shocked and disgusted by the indefensible use of force that led to George Floyd’s recent death in Minneapolis. We are equally appalled, however, by the lack of intervention displayed by the other officers who were on the scene,” said Broomfield Police Chief Gary Creager, chair of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, in the statement. “We will not sit idly by. Inaction should be condemned as harshly as unjust force. We have heard that our community wants increased accountability, and today we urge the Colorado Legislature, in the short time they have remaining in the session, to add a Duty to Intervene to state statue.”
7:02 p.m.
The mother of Elijah McClain, an Aurora man who died after an altercation with police last summer, spoke at the protest downtown:
6:26 p.m.
Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson knelt with protesters outside the Municipal Center.
APD said Wilson marched with protesters as well.
“Ending police brutality is a combined effort and she answered the tough questions and made promises to improve relationships,” the department said in a tweet.
5:42 p.m.
The large group that gathered at the Capitol is now marching through the streets.
5:13 p.m.
A large crowd has gathered outside the Capitol for a sixth consecutive day. Lawmakers spoke to the protesters about introducing a bill for police accountability.
4:56 p.m.
The Aurora Police Department says a peaceful group of protesters is traveling eastbound on Mississippi Avenue from Sable Boulevard. Mississippi is closed in the area.
4:52 p.m.
Protesters in Castle Rock prayed with Police Chief Jack Cauley.
“I pray that everybody can heal together — that we can listen to each other,” he said.
7:30 a.m.: Peaceful protest planned in Castle Rock
