Activists at a conference Thursday night in Denver protested the recent Denver police shooting of a young lesbian.
The National Conference on LGBT Equality has nearly 4,000 people at the Sheraton Denver Downtown this week, and after the demonstration Mayor Michael Hancock canceled a speaking engagement that was scheduled for Thursday evening.
“Part of the tradition of the conference is highlighting and demonstrating, speaking out about the ongoing key issues and important fights,” said Jorge Amaro, a national LGBTQ task force spokesman.
Hancock’s office is working with LGBTQ staff to reschedule a possible appearance, a spokeswoman said Friday.
“After consulting with conference organizers, it was determined that protesters were unlikely to let Mayor Hancock deliver his speech last night,” the mayor’s spokeswoman Amber Miller wrote in an e-mail. “The demonstrators were there to make a statement on recent events; and the Mayor heard them and respected their right to make their views known.”
HUD Secretary Julian Castro was scheduled to speak Friday afternoon at the conference, but his engagement has been canceled because of emergency dental surgery, Amaro said. Castro also canceled a speech Friday morning at the University of Denver.
The Jan. 28 , who was behind the wheel of a stolen car in a Denver alley, has become a conference talking point. Thursday night transgender activists, many waving hand made signs, took the stage and chanted “Jessie Presente!”
“Naturally people here have Jessie Hernandez on our hearts and minds,” Amaro said.
Denver police said Hernandez was shot after the vehicle she was driving struck an officer, injuring his leg.
A at Advantage Funeral Home in Aurora. A Mass is scheduled for Saturday morning at Holy Trinity Church in Westminster.
The LGBT Equality conference runs through Sunday.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/kierannicholson
