Protesters gathered at the Colorado State Capitol on February 8 to denounce ICE raids and show solidarity with immigrants, expressing anger towards President Trump's policies and rhetoric.
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Colorado State Capitol on Saturday, February 8, to express their anger towards ICE ( Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and show solidarity with immigrants. The demonstration, fueled by opposition to President Donald Trump 's policies and rhetoric, saw protesters march along Lincoln Street, spilling out from the Capitol's west lawn.
The protest, which continued into the evening hours, resulted in three arrests: two individuals for graffiti and one for graffiti and inciting a riot, according to the Denver Police Department. Protesters organized indigenous-style dances and sage burnings, celebrating their Mexican and Native American heritages, a prominent theme throughout the demonstration. Members of the Denver branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) delivered impassioned speeches, warning that ICE would 'tear apart thousands of Colorado families' and urging 'ICE to get out of our neighborhood.' A sea of Mexican flags fluttered alongside signs in both English and Spanish denouncing ICE and billionaires, including Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and X, who is part of Trump's inner circle. Some signs even boldly proclaimed 'Deport Elon.' Other messages resonated with the crowd, such as 'billionaires are the real enemy — not immigrants' and 'ICE fuera,' meaning 'out with ICE' in Spanish. Hand-written signs declared 'ICE on ICE' and 'Colorado stands with immigrants,' alongside powerful affirmations like 'I speak for those who don't have a voice' and 'no one is illegal.' Demonstrators proudly displayed their Mexican heritage, waving the country's flag and donning attire adorned with Aztec symbols.Chants amplified through a speaker system reverberated through the streets, declaring 'the people united will never be defeated' in English, followed by the Spanish equivalent: '!El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!' The march extended to Speer Boulevard before returning to the Capitol via Fourteenth Avenue, concluding a brief march amidst a larger gathering that continued to chant from Lincoln Street and the State Capitol's west lawn.This demonstration, drawing an estimated 5,000 people, echoed a similar event that took place during the Fifty State Protests, where Mexican pride emerged as a dominant message. While initially intended to oppose Project 2025, a conservative policy plan from the Heritage Foundation advocating for border security and mass deportations, the protest also stemmed from a series of raids conducted by ICE, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other federal agencies at Denver and Aurora apartment complexes on Wednesday, February 5. The Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) reported that apartment doors were 'blasted open with flash-bang grenades,' drawing condemnation from various groups, including the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition and the Colorado People's Alliance. Adding further fuel to the protest, the Department of Justice announced on February 5 that it would withhold funding from state and local agencies classified as 'sanctuary jurisdictions,' those that refuse to cooperate with ICE. This announcement amplified concerns among Denver and Colorado officials, particularly Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who was invited by congressional Republicans to testify before the House Oversight Committee on March 5, defending his comments made in November
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