DENVER (KDVR) — 12 people have been arrested With 11 associated arrests To “secondary marches” after the “No to Kings” march on Saturday, according to the police.
“No to Kings” rallies were held across the country and throughout Colorado, including downtown Denver and in the Colorado Capitol area.
The Denver Police Department told FOX31 that at approximately 3:30 p.m., most of the protesters who were present in the downtown Denver and state Capitol areas left “after a peaceful march.”
However, the department said that at approximately 3:50 p.m., “a small group of protesters” allegedly began a second march, heading toward the intersection of 20th Street and Chestnut Street.
The department said its officers were stationed at the intersection to prevent the group from reaching Interstate 25.
“Numerous announcements were made over loudspeakers to protesters as they approached and gathered at this location that they would not be allowed access to the highway, and that reasonable force — including chemical munitions — could be used to block access to the highway,” a DPD spokesperson told FOX31.
According to DPD, at approximately 4:05 p.m., agency officers “declared it an unlawful assembly,” and issued several dispersal orders. At approximately 4:10 p.m., officers began deploying smoke and pepper balls to disperse the group and several arrests were made.
A DPD spokesperson said in a later update that at approximately 6:45 p.m., a group of protesters marched to 6th Avenue and Santa Fe Drive, where officers organized to block the group from getting onto the freeway.
“Several loudspeaker announcements were made declaring the assembly to be unlawful and for the group to disperse,” a DPD spokesperson said.
The officers then spread smoke and dispersed the group. During that time, DPD said officers arrested three individuals.
According to the department, preliminary information indicates that the 12 arrested were on the grounds of:
- Severe assault
- Assault on a peace officer
- graffiti
- And other municipal crimes
There is no information at this time about the identity of the 12 detainees or whether charges will be brought against them.