The protest group Unconventional Denver promised to disrupt what it called a “capitalist fundraising orgy” Monday night after official events at the Democratic National Convention.
The protesters got only as far as across the street.
A group of perhaps 100 protesters, trailed by onlookers, ran from Civic Center and down 15th Street toward the Wellington Webb Municipal Building before police in riot gear blocked their path to the 16th Street Mall.
Police surrounded the group and moved up reinforcements, including at least two armored vehicles. Jacki Kelley of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said police made about 100 arrests, by far the largest number since visitors began arriving for the convention.
Honey Traiman, 55, of Denver, said it all started at Civic Center near city hall, but, like most in the crowd, she had no idea what started it.
“The thing that was crazy was no one was doing anything,” she said. “And then they used the pepper spray.”
Unconventional Denver had made no secret of its plan to have protesters meet at Civic Center and then disperse to downtown hotels in an effort to disrupt DNC parties or fundraisers.
A police spokesman said police were aware of the group’s plans and had massed their forces in the park based on intelligence about the protesters’ actions.
Downtown hotels went on alert, and when protesters started moving to the mall, police stopped them. As Michelle Obama took the stage at the Pepsi Center, police had the protesters bottled up on the streets bordering the Webb building.
Protesters chanted for the release of those who were briefly detained, and police complied, releasing some of those initially held. A photographer for The Denver Post was among those detained for a time, though he had credentials identifying himself as a journalist.
Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman had previously told the media that they would be allowed to cover protests and stay in front of or behind police, but officers did not adhere to that Monday night.
Throughout the standoff, bands playing at Recreate 68’s “Festival of Democracy” continued the music, giving the events a surreal air.
The standoff had calmed by 10 p.m., but more than 100 officers on foot and horseback were still blocking 15th Street as 28 protesters were splayed out on two patches of grass before them.
“This is what a police state looks like. You’re worried about Beijing? This is repression,” shouted Trish Gallagher, a Boston woman who is part of the activist group Code Pink.
The clash began after protesters and police had lined up across from one another in front of the City and County Building about 7 p.m., the police wearing their full riot gear and holding batons, chanting “move back, move back.”
When protesters wouldn’t move, police blocked them and used pepper spray.
ap reporters George Watson, Greg Mellen and Jay Hamburger contributed to this report.
