Denver’s fifth night of protests was mostly peaceful Monday until police used tear gas to disperse crowds still gathered at the Capitol around midnight — well past the 9 p.m. emergency curfew. Denver Police chief Paul Pazen joined Monday’s march, walking with a large crowd of protesters through the streets downtown.
Officials expect another night of protests Tuesday. Gov. Jared Polis addressed the protests in a press conference today.
Check back here to see the latest updates on the demonstrations in Denver.
Demonstrators across the country are protesting in large crowds after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd was a black man killed when a white police officer knelt on the back of Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd screamed “I can’t breathe!” Floyd was later pronounced death and the officer was fired and arrested.
The Denver curfew, which runs from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., has been extended by Mayor Michael Hancock through Friday morning. Police have arrested at least 284 people in connection with the nighttime protests, many for breaking curfew on Saturday and Sunday night.
Ashira Campbell, 17, of Denver speaks with Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen about wanting change as Pazen marches with protesters in Denver on June 1, 2020. Monday marked the fifth night of rallies held to protest the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died May 25 in Minneapolis Police custody. Law enforcement officers have made 284 arrests on charges ranging from violation of the city’s emergency curfew order to arson in connection to the protests held in Denver’s city core for four consecutive nights.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen marches with protesters in Denver on June 1, 2020. This was the fifth night of rallies held in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Chandler Givens marches with the crowd from the 16th street mall to the Capitol in Denver on Monday, June 1, 2020, during a protest after the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
JayShawn Dowman wears an "I can't breathe" mask as he listens to speakers during a protest Monday, June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
People stop to hear Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen speak to the crowd he was marching with during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen marches with protesters in Denver on June 1, 2020. This was the fifth night of rallies held in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
A woman who wished to remain anonymous wears a Black Lives Matter earring as she listens to speakers during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Devin Urioste, an educator at Youth on Record, stops his car on Lincoln as thousands of marchers take the streets during a protest Monday, June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A protester hands out flowers after members of the Denver Police Department joined people rallying in protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25. Denver joined protests being held in cities across the nation.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Protesters sit down to hear Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen speak to the crowd he was marching with during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, over the murder of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by Minneapolis Police on May 25.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Assétou Xango, Aurora Poet Laureate, delivers her words to the crowd during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Shayana Dabney, a senior majoring in political science and history at CSU-Pueblo and president of the Black Student Union, speaks to the crowd during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Bianca Mikahn, activist and musician, raises her fist in honor of black lives during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Torrence Brown, Northern Colorado graduate and University of Cincinnati PhD candidate, walks along a memorial for fallen black people who were murdered in the United States as he speaks to the crowd during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
People raise their fists amidst the crowd of thousands to honor black lives during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Protesters put flowers on a Civil War Monument outside the Capitol in Denver on June 1, 2020. Monday marked the fifth night of protests held in Denver after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Protesters make their way down Colfax Avenue during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A women lies in the street overcome with emotion during a protest over the death of George Floyd on June 1, 2020 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Security guards hired by the Denver Coalition for the Homeless, left, get stuck in traffic as protesters made their way across Colfax Avenue during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25. The guards said they were hired to watch over the homeless during the protest.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Protesters yell for a medic after a man was knocked out during a fight that broke out in the middle of Colfax Avenue during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, organized in response to the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25. One of protester sanding by said the injured man was trying to stop someone from burning the American flag.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Demonstrations continue over the death of George Floyd on June 1, 2020 in Denver.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
A hand is joyously raised in the air after a large crowd marched to Five Points and back to the Capitol in Denver during a demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. Monday drew large crowds to downtown Denver during the day and into the evening. Many young members of the black community spoke on topics ranging from the victims of police violence to the empowerment of black people nationwide.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
A 15-year-old boy lies on the ground with his hands behind his back alongside his father during a peaceful demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. The father and son asked to remain anonymous, but agreed to the use of their photo in hopes of drawing attention to their non-violent and non-agitative methods of communicating their message.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
A 15-year-old boy hugs his father after lying on their stomachs with their hands behind their backs during a peaceful demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. The father and son asked to remain anonymous, but agreed to the use of their photo in hopes of drawing attention to their non-violent and non-agitative methods of communicating their message. The father expressed pride in his son, who asked him to go downtown to take part in the day's events.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
From left to right Kenny White, Kingsley Lawson, Tae Godfrey and Neil Yarbrough raise their fists as they honor George Floyd with seven minutes of silence after marching down Broadway during a demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. The event was highlighted by tones of positivity and peaceful demonstration throughout the day.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Protesters sit on Broadway after making a march through Five Points in Denver during a demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. Monday drew large crowds to downtown Denver during the day and into the evening. Many young members of the black community spoke on topics ranging from the victims of police violence to the empowerment of black people nationwide. The event was highlighted by tones of positivity and peaceful demonstration throughout the day. Participants in the march danced and demonstrated joyously.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
The crowd breaks out into joyous song as Meek Mill bangs from a boombox after marching from the Capitol in downtown Denver to the historic Five Points neighborhood and back during a demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. Monday drew large crowds to downtown Denver during the day and into the evening. Many young members of the black community spoke on topics ranging from the victims of police violence to the empowerment of black people nationwide. The event was highlighted by tones of positivity and peaceful demonstration throughout the day.
Participants honor George Floyd with seven minutes of silence as they marched down Broadway during a demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. Monday drew large crowds to downtown Denver during the day and into the evening. The event was highlighted by tones of positivity and peaceful demonstration throughout the day. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
A small group of demonstrators ignite fireworks in the direction of police officers after a much larger group of thousands of people had gathered together earlier in the day in Denver with a positive and celebratory tone in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Police toss canisters of gas towards demonstrators who remained out long after curfew and peaceful crowds had mostly dispersed in Denver late on Monday, June 1, 2020. The remaining protesters differed from the day's largely positive and celebratory tone in honor of black lives.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Police officers round up the remaining few protesters after a much larger group of thousands of people had gathered together earlier in the day in Denver with a positive and celebratory tone in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
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Ashira Campbell, 17, of Denver speaks with Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen about wanting change as Pazen marches with protesters in Denver on June 1, 2020. Monday marked the fifth night of rallies held to protest the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died May 25 in Minneapolis Police custody. Law enforcement officers have made 284 arrests on charges ranging from violation of the city’s emergency curfew order to arson in connection to the protests held in Denver’s city core for four consecutive nights.
