In Photos: 5 years ago George Floyd’s death prompted weeks of protests in Denver

By Hart Van Denburg
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George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
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Peaceful protesters gathered in front of the state Capitol June 3, 2020, as part of many days of protest in Denver over the killing of George Floyd, a black Minneapolis man, by white police officer Derek Chauvin.

George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
As others seek to comfort her a woman crouches and yells in pain after getting injured during protests in front of the Capitol in Denver on May 2
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Denver police officers in riot gear surround a protester using a wheelchair as another protester captures the confrontation on a phone camera during protests in front of the Capitol in Denver on May 28.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
As more and more protesters came out in the streets in Denver on May 28, enraged by the death of George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer, the numbers of police from Denver and surrounding cities also grew.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
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A car's window is smashed outside the state Capitol during demonstrations in downtown Denver against the death of Goerge Floyd on Thursday, May 28.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Police form a wall of shields as they move west on Colfax Avenue at night in front of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, trying to contain a growing croewd of protesters on May 28.

George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
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With a crowd of protesters behind him on the corner of Colfax and Lincoln, a man writes “Love” the night of May 29, as demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd continued to grow.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Anti-police graffiti was spray-painted on the walls of the Capitol and numerous other state government buildings in downtown Denver, including the Ralph Carr Judicial Center on Lincoln Street, May 29.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
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Denver School Board member Auon'tai M. Anderson was among the social justice protesters May 29 taking to the streets in Denver to protest the death of George Floyd and others at the hands of police.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
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Police in riot gear move up 15th Street in front of the Colorado Supreme Court in a cloud of tear gas on the night of May 29, 2020.

George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
A Denver protester holding a graphic image depicting a man being shot joins a huge crowed of others outside the Capitol in Denver on May 30.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Protesters stage a die-in in front of the Capitol to protest the death of George Floyd and others on May 30. With COVID rules still in effect, many protesters kept their masks on during the protest, often opting for red masks as a sign of solidarity.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
A protester carries an American flag, held upside down in the traditional signal of distress, during a die-in in front of the Capitol to protest the death of George Floyd and others on May 30.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
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Police armed with non-lethal weapons secure a line on Colfax and Lincoln on May 30. Some protesters saw the police line as a challenge and began to try and break through from the Capitol lawn.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
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Firefighters arrive to put out flames in burning garbage containers at 11th and Lincoln. The first few days of the Denver protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis sometimes became violent at night, but most gatherings were peaceful.

George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen marches and speaks with demonstrators on June 1 as they peacefully protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
A massive and peaceful march wound through downtown Denver the night of June 1.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
A massive and peaceful march wound through downtown Denver the night of June 1.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Protesters yell “hands up, don’t shoot” during a massive and peaceful march through downtown Denver the night of June 1.
A massive and peaceful march winded through downtown Denver the night of Sunday, June 1, 2020.
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
After Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen marched with demonstrators on Monday, June 1, 2020, to peacefully protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, thousands marched passionately but peacefully along Broadway in Denver.

George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Quincy Shannon, often called “Q,” was among the organizers and speakers at the June 3, 2020, rally at Civic Center Park
Veronica Markley
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Veronica Markley

George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Protesting police violence, peaceful demonstrators filled Civic Center Park in Denver of June 6.

George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
A prayer vigil and march against racism and police brutality, organized by the Episcopal Church of Colorado, started at Denver’s St. John’s Cathedral, and stopped for moments of silence at the state Capitol and District 6 police station.
Prayer Vigil March George Floyd Police Brutality Protest June 5
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
A prayer vigil and march against racism and police brutality, organized by the Episcopal Church of Colorado, started at Denver’s St. John’s Cathedral, and stopped for moments of silence at the state Capitol and District 6 police station.
George Floyd Social Justice Protests 5 Years Later
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Urged on by the music of Denver-based Brothers of Brass, a march and protest racism and police brutality felt more like a celebration and demonstration rolled into one. The noise but peaceful procession began at the Capitol, traveled up 14th Street through Capitol Hill, to Cheeseman Park on June 5.
George Floyd Protest June 5 Brothers of Brass
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
Urged on by the music of Denver-based Brothers of Brass, Friday evenings march and protest racism and police brutality felt more like a celebration and demonstration rolled into one. The noise but peaceful procession began at the Capitol, traveled up 14 Street through Capitol Hill, to Cheeseman Park on Friday, June 5, 2020.

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