Protesters March On Boulder Turnpike, Block Traffic In Planned 'Die-In'
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) – Demonstrators laid down on the Boulder turnpike on Monday evening, effectively shutting down one of the major routes in and out of the city during rush hour.
As part of protests against police tactics, about 150 people marched south on 28th Street near the University of Colorado campus past Baseline Road to where U.S. 36 becomes a highway. There they stage a "die-in" and laid across the road. The highway was shuttered between Baseline and Table Mesa Drive.
Police made no arrests.
Chanting "no justice, no peace," protesters said they were marching in solidarity with residents of Ferguson, Missouri, where a white police officer shot and killed an unarmed black teenager in August.
"I'm here in solidarity for everything that is occurring in Ferguson," one demonstrator said. "Not just Ferguson but the United States."
Rush hour was tied up in both directions, but some protesters said that's the price commuters need to pay to understand the problems plaguing communities.
"There are bigger problems in the United States than a traffic jam," another protester said.
Scattered throughout the rally were two counter-protesters who backed the police.
"We support our police no matter how hard of a decision they have to make," one of the pair said. "They still have to go home to their family at the end of the day."
After the rally, the marchers walked to Naropa University.
Similar protests and marches have taken place in Boulder and Denver over the last week.
Earlier on Monday, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle called the planned protest march a "no-win" situation for law enforcement. He talked to the Boulder Daily Camera in the morning.
"If we don't do anything about it, the public will be upset," Pelle told the Daily Camera. "But if we did, it could involve arrests or tear gas or force. And again we will be scrutinized."
Organizers said earlier on Monday they planned for protesters to gather at 28th Street and Colorado Avenue for a brief "die-in" at 5:30 p.m. before they were to to march toward U.S. 36.
Pelle said he was worried if the protest caused gridlock on the turnpike, it would have made for a dangerous situation in Boulder, such as hindering emergency vehicles from responding in the area. He said he understands people want to be able to exercise their right to assemble, but at some point it becomes unlawful.
Protest organizer Kevin Recinos told the Daily Camera their purpose was to disrupt "business as usual."
"We're not trying to stop anyone who has an emergency, but we don't consider going to Target an emergency," Recinos told the Daily Camera.
LINK: Read The Story From The Daily Camera
Walking on the highway is against the law and protesters who do so could be arrested.
Last Wednesday in Denver four bicycle police officers were struck by a car while escorting East High School students during a protest. One of those officers remains in critical condition.
Pelle said he believes planned disruptions just make commuters angry.
"At some point the community will become intolerant to this and put pressure on the police to do something about it. I would think they would want to build community support and not antagonize the entire community," he said.
According to the Daily Camera, Recinos said about 80 people signed up for the protest.
