Justice for Elijah McClain: Aurora’s Protest and Aftermath

What started as a peaceful protest Saturday, with hundreds marching in Aurora to demand justice for Elijah McClain and stand in solidarity with Portland, Oregon’s navigation of federal agents in the city, gradually shifted to what Aurora Police declared as an “unlawful protest” that evening.

The demonstration, organized by the Party for Socialism and Libration, the Frontline Party for Revolutionary Action, and Aurora Copwatch, began peacefully as protestors came together, the crowd participating with speakers and eventually moving to Interstate 225, shutting down both directions.

Things took a stark turn, as a blue-green Jeep plowed through the crowd around 7 p.m. Video of the incident shows protestors quickly bolting to either side of the street to avoid being hit. At this point, shots were fired by a protestor that injured two others. A third protestor had to jump from a barrier to avoid being hit and sustained injuries, having fallen at least 20 feet.

Following the attack, the crowd on 225 scattered, though many reassembled around 8 p.m. at the Aurora Municipal Center. Organizers asked the crowd to disperse, and while most did, some stayed put, leading to property damage to government buildings, a fire in the courthouse, and escalated tensions between the remaining demonstrators and police. Around this time, Aurora police deemed the protest unlawful and cautioned those remaining:

UPDATE: This has been declared an unlawful protest.

Everyone needs to leave the area immediately.

If you remain, you are subject to arrest. pic.twitter.com/4YlveNi1MC

— Aurora Police Dept. ???????????????????????? (@AuroraPD) July 26, 2020

Aurora Police are seeking tips involving the shooting on I-225; the Jeep has been confiscated, and police are in contact with the driver, who was seen the back of a cop car Saturday without handcuffs. Police say the investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made.

Related article: Attorney General to Head Investigation of Elijah McClain’s Death

On Sunday, the organizers of the demonstration released a joint statement calling out the “stark contrast” of the Aurora Police handling this violent incident versus how they subdued Elijah McClain last year when he was walking home and listening to music.

https://www.facebook.com/denverPSL/posts/989697801482710

The demonstration was one of many recent protests in Aurora, organized as an ongoing effort to demand justice for Elijah McClain, an unarmed Black man who was violently arrested and apprehended by Aurora Police last August, suffered two heart attacks after being heavily sedated by medics, before finally being hospitalized, pronounced brain dead, and dying days later. The year anniversary of his death is August 30.

There are multiple, ongoing investigations taking place, but none of the three officers involved have been charged.

This is a developing story. Keep up with OUT FRONT for more updates.