A team of 16 local organizations with liberal ties are planning to build and then destroy a wall Friday morning in response to presumptive Republican presidential nominee to Denver.
The groups plan to construct a 9-by-30 foot structure in Civic Center Park out of boxes from each organization that contain donated goods.
“The goal is a couple things,” said Ian Silverii, executive director of ProgressNow, one of the groups involved. “First of all, it’s to just to bring our community together, something positive. It turns out when Trump turns up in places, there is (tension).”
Once the wall is built, organizers say it will be painted with a mural by local Latino artists and college students. It will then be disassembled and all donated goods will be delivered to a community center in Westminster that provides wraparound services to break the cycle of multi-generational poverty.
Silverii said while the wall is, in many ways, a response to Trump’s plans to build a massive wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, it’s also meant to challenge that controversial idea.
“He’s building a wall because he wants to isolate and divide us,” Silverii said. “We’re building a wall because we want to bring people together.”
The organizations participating also include the American Friends Service Committee, Center for Community Change, iAmerica, NARAL ProChoice, Protégete Colorado, Generation Latino Action, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, AFL-CIO, Colorado Wins, Democracy Partners, Above Waters Project, Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, New Era, Mi Familia Vota, Colorado People’s Alliance, America’s Voice and One Colorado.
The wall is expected to be built by about 9 a.m.
Trump during his presidential campaign on Friday to speak at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver.
