Denver Protesters React to Dallas Shooting
DENVER (CBS4) Protestors with Black Lives Matter 5280 (BLM5280), the Colorado chapter, are still at Civic Center Park this morning. They plan to be there for 135 hours. One hour for each African American killed by a police officer. Police killed at least 136 black people in 2016, according to a project by the Guardian that tracks police killings in America.
LINK: Guardian Count Of Police Killings
This morning, CBS4 spoke with one member of BLM5280 about why he feels it's important to extend the protest for such a long time,
"So many of us here and across the nation are hurting. Members of our community have been murdered at the hands of the state, at the hands of police. It's important that we come together as a community so that members of our community who are grieving, who are hurting have a place to go, have a place to be. So that they don't have to be alone. It's important that we as a community step out and show that this isn't something that we're going to stand for any longer."
CBS4 talked to the co-leader of BLM5280 about the events that unfolded in Dallas.
"My reaction is the same as it's been to every horrific act of violence that our community is already mourning, we mourn with communities that are mourning," said Amy Emery-Brown.
CBS4 asked her how it changed the way she will go about the 135-hour protest. She said the message won't change.
"Nothing about it changes with increased tragedies it's only more needed."
Emery-Brown went on to say that so far, the message has been well received and she was happy to see such a large, diverse crowd join the protest and March Thursday evening. That remained largely peaceful.
While the group gathered at Civic Center Park Friday morning was small, they anticipate more people will join them.
