18 hours ago
Denver police arrest 36 during anti-ICE protests
Denver police arrested 36 people during a protest downtown Saturday night, deploying smoke and pepper balls to disperse crowds, multiple news outlets reported.
Why it matters: The use of crowd-control measures like smoke was an escalation from earlier Saturday, when thousands of anti-Trump marchers participating in the "No Kings" protest remained largely peaceful.
State of play: An anti-ICE demonstration organized by the Denver Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL Denver) started shortly after the initial "No Kings" protest ended downtown around 4pm.
Some of the people who participated in the evening protest were also part of the earlier demonstration, Axios observed Saturday.
Yes, but: DPD said "the vast majority of people" participating in the "No Kings" protest left after the event ended. A separate group of people were protesting Saturday night when the arrests occurred, police said.
Between the lines: Protesters were arrested on investigative charges including failure to obey a lawful order, obstruction of streets, and unlawful throwing of projectiles, police said Sunday.
At least one group attempted to enter I-25 near 20th and Blake streets, while others allegedly threw objects including rocks and bottles at police officers.
Officers used loudspeakers to discourage people from entering the highway, though some protesters tried pushing through a line of officers, which DPD declared an "unlawful assembly," per Denver 7.
Between the lines: Police used pepper balls and launched smoke, but did not use tear gas, a department spokesperson told CBS Colorado.
