On Tuesday night, Denver police arrested 18 individuals following a downtown protest that expressed discontent over federal immigration raids and demonstrated solidarity with activists in Los Angeles.
Hundreds of protesters initially gathered outside the Colorado State Capitol around 5:30 p.m. The crowd eventually split into two groups, marching down different thoroughfares and causing significant traffic disruption.
“I want to be present and stand up to what I think is really wrong,” Bonnie Lloyd, a protester from Broomfield, shared with Denver7 during the demonstration.
This event was part of a series of emergency protests titled ‘ICE Out!’ across the nation, organized as a direct response to President Donald Trump’s recent deployment of National Guard troops and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles.
Denver protest organizers condemned the government’s actions, stating, “The people of Los Angeles have taken a courageous stand against Trump’s reign of terror targeting immigrant families.” They criticized the administration for labeling the demonstrators as ‘rioters’ and called the police response an excessive show of force.
As of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, the Denver Police Department reported that 18 protesters were arrested. The charges ranged from obstruction of streets to assaulting a police officer.
Among those arrested were:
– Six individuals on suspicion of obstruction of streets and failure to obey a lawful order.
– Three people on suspicion of obstruction of streets, failure to obey a lawful order, and interference with police authority.
– Two individuals on suspicion of criminal mischief due to graffiti.
– One person on suspicion of destruction of private property related to graffiti.
– One person on suspicion of second-degree assault against a peace officer.
– Another suspect charged with second-degree assault to a peace officer and criminal mischief.
– Additionally, one protester was arrested on suspicion of interference with police authority, and another for unlawfully throwing projectiles.
– One individual faced a serious charge of first-degree assault causing serious bodily injury.
– Another individual was arrested for obstruction of streets.
Included in the arrests was a woman who allegedly scratched an officer’s face while resisting arrest. Another man reportedly attempted to swing a guitar at officers, according to his arrest affidavit.
The individual charged with first-degree assault is accused of striking another protester in the head with a skateboard, resulting in serious injuries that required paramedics to transport the victim to the hospital.
Police noted that some individuals attempted to impede officers from arresting fellow protesters or disregarded orders to vacate Interstate 25, trying to force their way onto the highway. In response, officers utilized smoke and fired pepper balls to disperse the crowds blocking roadways.
Despite reports of rocks and bottles being thrown at officers, the police department denied using tear gas during the protest.
The protests in Los Angeles, which began on Friday, intensified following President Donald Trump’s decision to mobilize National Guard troops and Marines amid heightened immigration enforcement raids.
“It’s not just about the violence that’s happening against protesters during protests,” expressed Alfonso Espino Reyna of the party for Socialism and Liberation in Colorado. “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.”
Activists nationwide are planning further demonstrations, including hundreds of ‘No Kings’ protests on Saturday to coincide with President Trump’s birthday and a military parade.
These ‘No Kings’ protests are set to take place in nearly 50 towns and cities across Colorado, including Denver, Boulder, Pueblo, and Grand Junction. In one Douglas County town, rally organizers resisted pressure from officials to cancel their planned protests.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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image source from：https://www.denverpost.com/2025/06/11/denver-protests-ice-out-immigration-raids-police-arrests/
