Hundreds of protesters march through downtown Denver
Hundreds of protesters marched through the streets of downtown Denver on Wednesday afternoon. The group gathered at the state Capitol just before noon in what was billed as an eight-hour protest.
The group gathered on the front lawn, some carrying signs and flags representing Colorado, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Some had bullhorns and were using them to broadcast their message. Then, the group started walking through the streets of downtown Denver, stopping traffic at several intersections, including Lincoln Street and 11th Avenue.
Denver police told CBS Colorado that officers are monitoring and providing traffic control for the demonstrators. Police said road closures are being conducted "as needed."
Some people carried signs that read "We built your homes, don't tear ours apart," "Families belong together," "Imagine all the people," "Abolish ICE," and "Transgender rights are human rights."
The protest at the Colorado Capitol was one of 50 planned in each state on Wednesday. Several different messages appeared during the demonstration.
"My message is my dad; he worked really hard. He's always worked. He came here to find a better future for myself and my siblings," Alexa Martinez said, as she held a sign that read "My dad works more than your president."
One flyer read, "50 Protests, 50 States, One Day" followed by the message "We The People REJECT Project 2025 Anti-Democracy & Trump's Agenda."
Jan Guyer said she was at the protest "because I'm 70 years old and I don't want my country to fall apart."
She said she takes issue with almost all of Trump's policies but took particular exception to how he was implementing them.
"Everything Trump's doing is wrong- illegal. If he wants to make changes then he needs to do it like everybody else does it. I don't fault him for wanting to make changes, but the way he's doing it is not OK. He's superseding any kind of rules or laws or procedures," Guyer said.
Paul, a protestor who asked that we not use his last name, wore a shirt that read "Veterans against Trump." He said he's here to protest the president and his recent actions.
"All he cares about is himself and his billionaire buddies. He doesn't care about America and our allies," he told CBS News Colorado.
"We did not serve this country to now have a dictatorship and having a traitor in charge of the country," he continued. "My family has been here since before the Revolutionary War and we fought tyranny."
According to the Colorado State Patrol, the protest permit was valid until 8 p.m. Wednesday.
