Protesters Make a Stand Despite Low Turnout and Growing Police Aggression
A small group assembled at the Colorado State Capitol and, despite low turnout and rising police aggression, they still stood their ground.
Multiple protests took place on August 2, 2025, including "ICE OUT!", a protest scheduled to begin around 5 pm, following the Rage Against the Regime protest. Due to thunderstorms and potential for severe weather, many protesters from earlier in the day went home earlier than expected. Shortly after 5 pm, a small group of protesters began to trickle into the open space near the Colorado State Capitol building. Alongside protesters, journalists, independent journalists, and local broadcast media such as Denver7 started to arrive. With the rising concerns of increased confrontations with the Denver Police, the Denver County Sheriff, and the Colorado State Police, many wore masks and long sleeves to help conceal their identities. The protest, consisting of roughly 20-30 people, many of whom are regulars at marches in the Denver area, was small but motivated. The protestors held a brief discussion as people continued showing up, sharing their views on different topics such as Trump, immigration enforcement, and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The protesters organized and made their way onto Lincoln St, blocking the intersection at 14th Ave. During the organized shutdown of the road, vehicles were still traveling on Lincoln St. Motorists cautiously moved forward, unsure how to proceed. Protesters directed traffic to turn right onto 14th Ave. to go around. Many vehicles slowly changed lanes to turn to the right, avoiding the closure created by the protesters; however, two motorists, one a man on a motorcycle and another in a car, decided to attack the protesters with their vehicles before fleeing the scene. Protesters responded by hanging caution tape around the traffic poles to further visually close the street.
Denver Police promptly moved in, closing down intersections around the area, allowing what traffic was left to leave before armored police vehicles carrying officers in tactical gear, hanging off the sides, exited a nearby parking garage and began to creep down Lincoln St. towards the protesters. Protest organizers, using a megaphone, told protesters that the police would demand that they exit the street, that if they didn't, they could face arrest. They reassured the protesters that if they decided to move to the sidewalk as ordered, no one would hold it against them. They continued to warn of increased aggressions made by law enforcement and advised everyone to watch out for kettling, a tactic used by law enforcement to trap large groups of people with no escape to carry out arrests in mass. The armored vehicles stopped their advance just short of the protesters. The Denver Police announced over the loudspeaker that the protesters were violating state law prohibiting blocking the roadway. They issued the order to exit the roadway or face the possibility of arrest. Continuing, they told protesters that they respect the protesters' right to assembly, as long as they were not violating state law.
The protesters briefly stood their ground, refusing to exit the roadway. Law Enforcement officers formed a line and advanced on the protesters, who retreated to the other side of the caution tape barrier. An officer approached, cut down the tape, and wrapped it up before another announcement came over the loudspeaker asking protesters to disperse from the roadway. A smaller group of protesters began to move to the sidewalk while others remained in the roadway. The police continued moving towards the protesters, walking them backwards down the street until all the protesters eventually moved to the sidewalk. The police lined up facing both sides of the road, attempting to keep protesters off the roadway. As they waited for the order to move on, a few officers exchanged insults with protesters who voiced displeasure with the officers, further antagonizing the crowd.
After several minutes, the officers walked back to their vehicles. Around 3-5 protesters ran back into the street, causing several officers to walk back toward the group in an attempt to make arrests. Another group of protesters, using an umbrella for cover, attempted to ignite an American flag. Three officers witnessing this action responded by dismounting their vehicle with mace and a fire extinguisher and rushing the group before extinguishing the small fire, confiscating the flag, and returning to their vehicles.
Officers left the area without further incident, and the protesters remained out of the roadway, allowing traffic flow again. Protesters remained at the Capitol for a short time after the protest had ended, aside from a brief altercation with a photographer, and left the area without further incident. We witnessed officers arresting one protester following the protest. We asked one officer what charges they had on the protester, and we were told, "I don't know why they're being arrested, I just got called to assist." Later, we reviewed the Denver inmate search to locate the individual and found officers charged them with criminal mischief, and they were released the following day.
