Colorado Speaks: The Black Lives Matter Protests
All of our protest-related coverage, in one place.
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On Memorial Day, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was killed by a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, despite Floyd repeatedly saying he could not breathe. The story—of police brutality against Black citizens—is not new, but Floyd’s murder would galvanize a country. While we waited to see if charges would be filed against the officers involved, waves of Black Lives Matter demonstrators took to the streets in Minneapolis. Soon after, protests erupted in nearly every major American city—including Denver.
More than a week later, those protests are ongoing. Thousands of people have descended on Capitol Hill every day and night since Thursday, May 28, demanding more accountability for law enforcement officers in Denver and beyond, and calling for more value to be placed on the lives of Black citizens.
At 5280, our editors, reporters, and photographers have been listening to protestors and searching for stories amidst the movement that might have otherwise gone uncovered.
We’ve spoken to people who were tear gassed and fired upon by police officers (including our staffers); people who have been lost—and found—in the mayhem; people who are downright scared; people who are trying to chart the legal path forward; and people committed to changing the country. We’ll continue to listen, report, investigate, and share these stories with our readers. On this page, you’ll find all of our protest coverage, which we will be updating regularly for the foreseeable future. You can also read our journalism from years past that sheds light on issues of race, police accountability, and activism in Colorado.
And we want to do more. If you have a story to tell or something you think we should cover, please email us at digital@5280.com.
READ: 5280 Statement on Denver’s Black Lives Matter Protests
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Who Owns Denver’s Black Lives Matter Movement?
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Denver Police Department’s History of Officer-Involved Shootings
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Q&A: Denver Mayor Michael Hancock
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Colorado General Assembly Approves Sweeping Police Reform Bill
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Inside RTD’s Decision to Cut Bus & Train Service During Denver’s Protests
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Photo Essay: Denver’s Touchstone Moment
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Activism and Faith Intersect at Vigil for George Floyd
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Q&A: DPS Board Member and Protest Organizer Tay Anderson
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Faces From the Black Lives Matter Protests
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Mayor Michael Hancock Speaks at George Floyd Protest
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Colorado Democrats Announce a New Bill To Hold Law Enforcement More Accountable
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Finding “Frontline Mike”: Two Strangers Share a Moment of Grace During the Protests
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Denver’s Fifth Night of Protests Leaves a Powerful and Peaceful Message
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Small Rally in Castle Rock Opens Dialogue on Race, but Not Without Tensions
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