DENVER—At least two dozen people were arrested Saturday at a rally that attracted hundreds to downtown Denver in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Denver police said the protesters were taken into custody for refusing to move out of the street, according to KUSA-TV ( ). The station reported that the arrests signaled a rise in tensions following a noon rally.
Following arrests on Broadway between 14th and 15th Streets, the crowds moved to the 16th Street Mall and shut down light rail service there for more than an hour before dispersing.
At various times the crowd at the downtown rally and march was estimated at between 1,000 and 5,000 participants. The TV station reported that between 2,000 and 3,000 people took part in the noon demonstration.
Earlier in the evening vehicle traffic had been stopped on two streets for at least an hour as protesters blocked an intersection in front of the Capitol.
Occupy Denver protester Jonathan Dubinsky told The Associated Press that he saw police in riot gear arrest “a handful” of protesters on Broadway between 14th and 15th Streets and that shortly after the streets cleared.
Denver police told KUSA that at least 24 were arrested and that in one instance pepper spray was used on protesters.
Gov. John Hickenlooper’s office responded to the police action with a statement urging “all protesters to obey the law.”
“We respect the First Amendment, but we can’t condone illegal activity,” said the statement from Eric Brown, the governor’s director of communications. “State troopers and Denver police are showing great restraint in the face of very difficult situations. The governor and senior staff have closely monitored the situation in downtown Denver all day and continue to do so.”
Attempts to contact the Denver police for comment were not immediately successful.
The arrests follow a move early Friday by the Colorado State Patrol and Denver police to clear a camp at nearby Lincoln Park. At least 23 people were arrested.
Protesters said they plan to rally at the park each day.
State officials planned to close the park again Sunday.
Marie Marinelli said she just graduated from college and showed up at the rally in support of the protesters. Marinelli graduated from University of Denver, a private school, with a degree in English.
“I worked a whole year … as a temporary employee,” Marinelli said. “I see ways that corporations cut corners, especially in terms of myself. I didn’t receive any of the benefits or the sick pay or the time off even though I committed a year of my life for this company.”
