DENVER — Eighteen people were arrested in Denver Tuesday evening during a protest against federal immigration enforcement.
Hundreds gathered at the west steps of the State Capitol beginning at 5:30 p.m. to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and other immigration enforcement actions by the Trump administration, joining protests across the country — namely Los Angeles — to call for an end to President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
"I want to be present and stand up to what I think is really wrong," Bonnie Lloyd from Broomfield told Denver7 Tuesday.
The ICE Out! protest eventually moved from the State Capitol into the streets of Denver. Around 8:30 p.m., protesters in the area of Broadway and Exposition were ordered to leave by the Denver Police Department. Denver7's Claire Lavezzorio was at the scene when officers in tactical gear pushed the group down the street.
A video captured by Lavezzorio shows a Denver police officer telling the crowd to disperse, "or all reasonable and necessary force will be used to make your arrest and prosecute you."
A Denver PD spokesperson confirmed that officers used smoke and pepper balls to disperse the group. The spokesperson described the pepper balls as "like paint balls, but containing a pepper spray type substance that are typically fired at the ground."
The police spokesperson also told Denver7 that officers "reported rocks were thrown at them by protestors at Broadway/Exposition while the crowd was being dispersed."
On Wednesday morning, Denver PD announced that 18 people had been arrested during the protest. They were arrested for the following offenses:
- Graffiti (3)
- Interference with Police Authority (1)
- Unlawful Throwing of Projectiles, Failure to Obey a Lawful Order (1)
- Obstruction of Streets, Failure to Obey a Lawful Order (8)
- Obstruction of Streets, Failure to Obey a Lawful Order, Interference with police Authority (2)
- Second Degree Assault (1)
- Second Degree Assault of a Peace Officer (2)
Denver7 Investigates’ Natalie Chuck took questions about the arrests, as well as concerns about the police response, to Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas.
"We're concerned about the fear that's being created in the community and... we want the community to know that, you know, that we support immigrants," Thomas said Wednesday. "We support them using their voice and demonstrating about the things that are happening across the country."
- Watch the full interview in the video player below
According to one arrest document, a suspect reportedly hit another person — not an officer — over the head with a skateboard, causing serious bodily injury. When asked if any fights broke out among protesters, Chief Thomas told Denver7 Investigates, "They're really trying to hijack the message," referring to the "agitators" who did not demonstrate peacefully.
"Trying to, just, create chaos.... and so, you know, I think that that, reasonably, I think angers the peaceful protesters because I think it dampens their message and I think takes away from their message," the police chief continued.
Documents show many of the arrests came after protesters allegedly refused to obey officers' commands and leave areas where they were impeding traffic.
"We just can't allow them to take the highway because it's just not safe for anybody," Thomas said. "It's not safe for officers. It's not safe for demonstrators. It's not safe for the motorist and public. And so, you know, that's something that we have to make sure we don't allow it to happen."
Denver
ICE Out! protest at Colorado Capitol spills into downtown Denver streets
Denver7 also talked with immigrant advocates for their thoughts about Tuesday's protest.
"It's not just about the violence that's happening against protesters during protests, it's the violence that's happening during the separation of families. It's the violence that's happening at the border. It's the violence that's happening to families all across this country," Alfonso Espino Reyna with the Denver Party for Socialism and Liberation said.
"It's unfortunate that ICE is trying to scare our community, but we will stand with our immigrant community," Amy Beck, a social justice advocate with Together Denver, said.
Denver7 asked DPD how it has changed its crowd control policies since the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd. The department provided the following examples, but did not include further details:
- The elimination the use of 40 mm less lethal equipment for purposes of crowd control
- Modified the way officers are permitted to use pepper balls for purposes of crowd management
- Less lethal equipment training enhanced to help ensure appropriate use in crowd control settings and understanding of commands
- All officers have received additional training on crowd control response and rapid deployment vehicle tactics
More protests are expected across Colorado on Saturday, including in Denver. One permit filed by an organization is listed for 8,000 people.
Chief Thomas said his department will be utilizing overtime, pulling officers from other shifts, and relying on surrounding agencies to help monitor the demonstration.
"It's often best to over-prepare, and so I'm confident that we will have a number of officers — the appropriate number of officers — to handle the size of the protest and whatever activities they choose to engage in," Thomas said.
