Three dozen protesters were arrested Saturday night in Denver on investigation of charges ranging from blocking streets to resisting arrest, according to the police department.
Investigators believe the 36 people arrested were not part of the “No Kings” protests that largely dispersed at about 4 p.m. Saturday, Denver Police Department spokesperson Doug Schepman said in an email on Sunday.
An estimated 20,000 Coloradans marched peacefully through downtown Denver on Saturday during at least five different waves of protests, and thousands more joined rallies across the state as part of the national “No Kings” movement.
“Those marches and demonstrations were peaceful,” Schepman said. “DPD believes a separate group of people were protesting last night when the arrests occurred.”
Schepman said 14 people were arrested near the intersection of West Colfax Avenue and Osage Street, where a group of demonstrators attempted to march onto Interstate 25 at about 6:30 p.m.
Those 14 protesters were arrested on suspicion of charges including failure to obey a lawful order, interference with police authority, unlawful throwing of projectiles, resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance, according to police.
Nine others were arrested on investigation of similar charges along Colfax, including where it intersects with Lincoln Street, Speer Boulevard and Broadway, police said.
Protesters on Colfax attempted to push through the line of officers blocking access to I-25, and an unlawful assembly was declared, Schepman said.
Another group tried to march onto I-25 near Coors Field at about 9:20 p.m. Saturday but were blocked at the intersection of 20th and Blake streets, Schepman said.
Both groups threw rocks and bottles at police blocking I-25, and Denver officers used smoke and fired pepper balls to disperse the groups, Schepman said.
Police denied using tear gas.
The three dozen people arrested Saturday ranged in age from a juvenile, who was cited and released, to a 44-year-old woman.
As of Sunday afternoon, the names and ages of six people arrested remained unknown. Five unidentified protesters were arrested on suspicion of failing to obey a lawful order and one was accused of throwing unspecified projectiles.
“No Kings” protests were planned in nearly 2,000 locations across the country — from small towns to major cities, according to the 50501 movement. The national organization’s name stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
Organizers said they named the “No Kings” rallies to support democracy and speak out against what they called the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration.
The marches across every state, from California to Colorado to New York, arrived on the heels of a national “ICE Out!” movement earlier that week and days of protests in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement raids.
Tensions continued to mount when President Donald Trump ordered the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, where protesters blocked a freeway and set cars on fire.
Just under 20 people were arrested Tuesday night in Denver during one of the “ICE Out!” protests.
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