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Protests and rallies continue in Denver for Black Lives Matter movement

135-hour sit-in underway in Downtown Denver
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As the Dallas Police ambush investigation continues, activists here in Denver are continuing their movements for Black Lives Matter.

Friday morning, a small group of protesters continued their sit-in outside the Denver City and County building on Bannock Street near Civic Center Park.

The group has been sitting out there since 1:35 p.m. Thursday.

They plan to sit out there for 135 hours total. 

They chose 135 hours because that is the number of African American people killed by police so far in 2016.

“Not thinking just experiencing community and through the night taking time during those quiet hours to think about the 135 and counting black lives we’re here to honor. So taking those quiet moments to think about black life,” said activist Amy Emery-Brown. 

A vigil is planned on the University of Denver campus Friday afternoon at the Driscoll Gallery inside the Driscoll Student Center.

The Director of Inclusive Excellence will be holding a brief gathering for the community that starts at 12 p.m.
It will start with a moment of silence followed by a commitment to speak against injustice, according to organizers.

There was another Black Lives Matter protest that went late into the night Thursday.

That protest blocked a busy downtown street near Civic Center Park.

Denver Police had to reroute traffic off of Lincoln at 14th Street.

Denver7 reached out to the organizer Friday morning.

Tay Anderson tells us what happened in Texas is tragic, but so is what happened earlier in the week, when two African American men were shot and killed by police in Louisiana and Minnesota.

“For so many years, and for too long, have African American men and women been shot down and there have been no police indictments," said Anderson. "But as soon as someone pulls the trigger on a police officer then everybody wants to look for them. Then everybody wants to try to convict them, but that’s not right."

Thursday night’s protest ended peacefully.

Anderson has planned another rally for Saturday, July 16, 2016, at the State Capitol in Downtown Denver.