Smoke and Riot Police Disperse ICE Protesters on Colfax
Tensions flared in Denver Saturday evening as a group of ICE protesters clashed with police near the Colorado State Capitol and along West Colfax Avenue. The demonstration, which began earlier in the day, intensified as the crowd moved west toward Interstate 25. Denver Police deployed officers equipped with riot shields, using smoke and pepper balls to push protesters back toward the Capitol. West Colfax was shut down in both directions between I-25 and North Osage Street as the situation escalated.
According to Denver Police, officers issued multiple loudspeaker warnings before the crowd attempted to break through a police line set near Osage and I-25. Police reported that protesters threw bottles and rocks at officers, and there were also incidents of graffiti in the area. The protest group was not affiliated with the earlier “No Kings” demonstration, which had wrapped up around 4 p.m. at the Capitol without incident.
This group marked the sixth separate march tracked by police on a day full of protest activity across the city. After officers moved in and deployed smoke to clear the scene, Colfax Avenue was reopened and police began removing smoke canisters from the roadway. By 8:15 p.m., five arrests had been made and the area was cleared of demonstrators.
