Civil rights activist Alvertis Simmons this afternoon said he is reversing his call for a boycott of the Denver Zoo.
Simmons said he changed his mind after he saw zoo president and CEO Craig Piper cry while talking about Alonzo Ashley, who died after an altercation with police there last month.
“We are going to separate the zoo from the Denver police,” Simmons said at a news conference this afternoon.
“I made a mistake,” he said. “I apologize to the zoo because I said the zoo was not safe for black people to attend. The zoo is safe not just for a black kid but for all kids to attend.”
Ashley, 29, died July 18, after a zoo security officer received a call from a staff member reporting a man had passed out near the elephant compound. The guard who responded found Ashley standing with his head under a water fountain.
The guard said Ashley made some irrational statements, including a claim to be a lion, then started yelling at his girlfriend and threw a trash can.
When the guard called police, Ashley began chasing him. Ashley tackled the guard and repeatedly punched him, zoo spokeswoman Tiffany Barnhart said.
The guard was scraped and bruised, she said.
Denver police arrived a short time later, and when officers tried to restrain Ashley, he attacked – hitting one officer and biting another officer and a security guard, police said.
Officers then used a Taser without success, and Ashley continued to fight.
Police were able to hold the man down, and, while waiting for paramedics, he started to convulse and stopped breathing, police said. He was taken to Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Toxicology tests on Ashley are pending.
His funeral was today.
Piper said the zoo is considering adding additional training for security officers, at the suggestion of Simmons and members of the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance. Zoo officials said they did not yet have details about the program.
Simmons and Piper met last week to discuss security as well as efforts to increase zoo outreach, mentoring and scholarship programs. The two said they plan to meet again this Friday and several times afterward.
“I’m excited about the opportunity,” Simmons said. “Today is a day of healing.”
