DNC protests get violent

At 6 p.m. we walked through Civic Center Park in downtown Denver to observe protest groups. The scene was surprisingly mellow. Several small organizations banded in different areas of the park. Seemingly solitary protesters sporting bandana masks walked throughout the park — some carrying signs. The riot police traveled throughout the park in groups of 8 to 12. Little taunting or provocation occurred.

At 6:45 p.m., we noticed several individuals (mostly those with bandanna masks) running toward the County Courthouse, located across from the park at Bannock Street. We followed.

That’s when the scene became violent.

Protesters began to flood Bannock Street, while cops demanded that everyone stay on the sidewalk. Because the police were fairly dispersed at this point, protesters and media (ourselves included) were able to easily infiltrate the street. As more police were called in, we were forced back to the sidewalk. Protesters demanded everyone to “Take back the streets.” The general outcry was over the fact that protesters should not be limited to confined areas in order to voice their First Amendment rights. We witnessed three protesters sprayed by police. Below are photos of the victims:


At this point, protesters changed directions. People began crowding around the opposite end of the park, towards 15th Street, forcing traffic to a standstill. We followed at a running pace, darting in front of cars to keep up with the crowd.

By 7 p.m. we found ourselves huddled with hundreds of protesters, police, media and observers at the intersection of 15th and Cleveland streets. Swarms of police squads pounded through the streets, demanding that citizens stay confined to the sidewalks. Those that were non-compliant quickly formed a huddle in the street and were subsequently surrounded by police in the middle of 15th Street. The police first checked them for weapons and separated those protesters that were under the age of 18. The fates of the adult protesters were, at that point, yet to be determined.

The crowd began screaming chants — everything from “They say, ‘Get back!’; We say, ‘Fight back!’” to the back-and-forth call, “What does a police state look like? This is what a police state looks like!” Several citizens pushed up against the police and were pushed back. At least one individual spray painted the wall of the building that served the police in helping to contain activists with anarchy symbols and the phrases, “Kill a cop” and “Fuck a pig.”

The energy was extremely tense. At several points, protesters provoked police to push back. This often resulted in many individuals running back toward the park in a frenzy.

Some of the surrounded street protesters were arrested. Those arrested were handcuffed with blue plastic cuffs, and taken behind police vans, out of visual sight.

The scene remained charged for hours. Many anti-police sentiments were shouted at the cops, who were armed in full riot gear — helmets with shield masks; bullet-proof vests; batons; pepper spray; plastic handcuffs; and guns. Several carried rifles, which we believe were rubber-bullet weapons. At the intersection of Court and 15th streets, to which the standoff extended, at least 30 police were mounted on horses. The horses also wore protective eyewear.

The crowd eagerly yelled for the police to release the remaining protesters who were still surrounded. At roughly 9 p.m., they did.

Massive applause, screams, whistles and fist pumping signified a victory for the activists. Those demonstrators who were released walked back through the crowd, en route to Civic Center Park, with their hands in the air and many pats on the back.

After a few minutes, it became clear that police were still holding several demonstrators, and the excitement of victory waned. The tension returned. Though confined to the sidewalk, heated chants were shouted.


People began to disperse at about 10 p.m.

Within 20 minutes, the vibe had changed. Many protesters and observers began to idly chat. Some even rested their legs and sat down.

Police remained positioned at the edge of the sidewalk, disallowing any attempt to flood the street.


When we left the scene at 11 p.m., many police and authority vehicles had left. A handful of protesters and observers straggled up and down the sidewalk, though without the enthusiasm they had pursued only hours earlier.

According to sources, 91 people were arrested. It is estimated that at least 300 were originally detained.

Needless to say, it was a long bike ride back to BW DNC headquarters.

—EG & DRL
Photos by Erica Grossman and Dana Logan