Video from the 8/25/08 Protest where Police Detained about 250 People with no Reason
The march took place on 8/25/08 and started at Civic Center Park in Denver, CO. Overall the march started out peaceful and there was no physical violence directed at the police. From Civic Center Park people marched on to Bannock St. in front of the Denver City and County building. People were headed north toward Colfax when police assembled a blockade of riot police. As the people continued to march towards them they tear gassed the people in front with no verbal warning and no request to stop. Soon after this a line of riot police started closing in from the south side of the crowd, this caused people to run eastward into the park again and continue the march down 15th Ave.
As the march continued down 15th, riot police quickly surrounded the crowd again and broke the group into two (if not more, it was hard to see through all the people). This occurred at 15th and Court. They encircled both groups forming two pens in which people were contained and not allowed to enter or exit. More tear gas was sprayed, children and elders were even sprayed. There were many people who just happened to get caught in the pen that weren't with the protest and were out walking on the streets. Around 30 minutes after they had formed the two pens, they joined the two of them into one, totaling around 250 people in the one.
Please click here to view the video with the full-screen option - http://www.vimeo.com/1623674
[video:http://www.vimeo.com/1623674]
Please click here to view the video with the full-screen option - http://www.vimeo.com/1623674
Both legal observers and street medics were in the crowd. Street medics were helping neutralize the tear gas on peoples faces as legal observers were asking to talking with a commanding officers. When we would ask what we were being detained for, we were told "your not, you can leave", few people even asked this as the police presence was ominous at the least. No one was let through the police line unless it was for arrest, not even the kids that were tear gassed.
Around two hours had passed when they finally let people go. As people moved out of the pen, they chanted "solidarity forever!". People stood around for around another hour despite the continued police presence. Why they detained (curiously, this word was never used by any of the police nor did they even admit they were holding us there) us was never communicated to any of the crowd and as I understand no legal detainment can take place unless a unlawful act has been cited by the police.
Since that night, I have herd rumors that many of the people who were arrested received citations for throwing objects at the police. I personally never saw anything moving through the air other than the tear gas, rubber bullets and police helicopter. No dispersal order was ever given. In the end this was a sad excuse for the police to abuse their power and try to make a bold statement in front of the largest Denver newspaper office.



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