Saturday marked the tenth day of protests in Colorado following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. From Denver to Greeley, KUNC reporters recap what happened today.
Protesters buoyed by Denver order limiting the use of tear gas, rubber bullets
Protesters said they were encouraged by a recent court ruling that limits police use-of-force tactics during peaceful demonstrations. The , issued by a federal judge late Friday, immediately barred Denver officers from firing weapons such as tear gas and rubber bullets on demonstrators unless a captain or high-ranking officer deems it necessary 鈥渋n response to specific acts of violence or destruction of property that the command officer has personally witnessed.鈥�
The lawsuit was brought by four Denver residents who were injured during clashes with police in late May. The city鈥檚 police department said it would comply with the new rules, 鈥淢any of which are already in line with our community-consulted Use of Force Policy,鈥� it was 鈥渁sking for modifications to the order.鈥�
On the steps of the state Capitol building Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators held signs and listened throughout the afternoon as community activists gave speeches over a megaphone.
Carolyn Phillips, 72, held a sign listing the names of 30 unarmed African-Americans killed by police in the past decade, including George Floyd. Phillips said the federal judge鈥檚 ruling was one indication that her activism was making a difference.
鈥淚t feels like -- finally -- we may see change,鈥� Phillips said. 鈥淕eorge Floyd is a catalyst for change. What we cannot do is go back to business as usual.鈥�
Broncos players lead peaceful protest, march in Denver
Members of the Denver Broncos held a peaceful protest in downtown Denver on Saturday. Defensive player Jeremiah Attaochu kicked off the event with a prayer, then spoke to hundreds of protesters gathered at the Greek Theater in Civic Center Park.
Attaochu and his teammates want to be agents of change, he said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the only way we鈥檙e gonna fix things is if we use our voices to speak out on policies and things that are not allowing our people to be successful, to have a chance in life,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 keep putting a band-aid on an old wound.鈥�
Several players addressed the crowd including Superbowl 50 MVP Von Miller, who said the 鈥渢ime is always right to do what鈥檚 right.鈥�
Players with lead march starting at Greek Theater in Civic Center Park.
— Stephanie Daniel (@stephd323)
Head coach Vic Fangio also attended the protest. Earlier this week he apologized for saying he had not seen racism or discrimination in the NFL.
"While I have never personally experienced those terrible things first-hand during my 33 years in the NFL, I understand that many players, coaches and staff have different perspectives. I should have been more clear and I am sorry,鈥� he wrote in on the Broncos鈥� website.
Fangio said he looks forward to listening, supporting and working with the players to create meaningful change.
In Greeley, 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence
In Greeley鈥檚 Monfort Park, the protest started with speeches from community leaders and people of color sharing their experiences with police. Then, the crowd fell silent for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in memory of George Floyd.
Hannah Mow, one of the organizers, said one of the goals is to change how people think about Greeley by encouraging people of color to share their experiences of racism in the community.
鈥淭here鈥檚 people here we need to protect,鈥� Mow said. 鈥淚鈥檓 sick of people perceiving Greeley to be a conservative, white town because it鈥檚 not. There鈥檚 so much more than that.鈥�
Community leaders also called on local police oversight groups to refocus so they can maintain open communication between the police and residents.
鈥淚 just really think that if we鈥檙e going to see a change, then we need to make sure all our boards, commissions, and all our elected offices really reflect our community,鈥� said Rhonda Solis, a member of the Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 really make change unless we have all those voices at the table.鈥�
Longmont protesters balance two epidemics
A health condition prevented Longmont resident Anna Daily from participating in the march with others. Instead, she and her dog took to her fourth-floor balcony, where she as protesters marched below.
鈥淚 chose to participate from my balcony because I am high risk for COVID,鈥� said Daily. 鈥淏ut, we are also experiencing a centuries-long epidemic of violence against black Americans in this country.鈥�
Others at the demonstration echoed the same sentiment, calling police brutality a 鈥減andemic of racism鈥� and a 鈥渧irus.鈥�
鈥淪ay his name: George Floyd! Say her name: Breonna Taylor!,鈥� protest organizers called through the megaphone, occasionally reminding participants to maintain social distance.
A volunteer snaked through the crowd with a tub of masks, for any of the early-afternoon protesters who wanted one.
Earlier this week, a number of public health experts in support of protesters, despite the fact that demonstrations require large gatherings.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very important to remind all of us this is a public health issue -- racism is. We should speak up and we should not accept it,鈥� Ali Mokdad with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. More than 100,000 Americans of COVID-19, he noted. 鈥淏ut in my opinion, racism is more dangerous to my country than COVID-19.鈥�
