Many anarchist protesters released; others still detained downtown
By Paul A. Anthony, Rocky Mountain News
Published August 25, 2008 at 8:50 p.m.
Updated August 25, 2008 at 8:50 p.m.
Tillie Fong © The Rocky
Protesters waiting for arraignment.
15TH AND CLEVELAND — Police released the vast majority of the hundred-plus anarchist protesters they had detained on 15th Street, with a larger and growing mob cheering raucously as the protesters emerged with hands raised.
The protesters said they saw "dozens" of people arrested, though it is not clear whether those people were jailed or simply released away from the scene.
"I was scared," said Alyssa Gunn, 22, one of the protesters held by police inside the entrance to a 15th Street parking garage for nearly an hour. "You could smell the tear gas and pepper spray in the air."
The protesters have alleged police stormed a peaceful gathering in Civic Center, but some bystanders said that is not entirely the truth.
The group broke from police in the park and began running down 15th Street, pulling on trees, said John Cheney, 26, who was walking his dog when he came upon the scene.
"I don't think they were being inordinately violent," Cheney said of the police. "It looked like the cops acted as necessary."
Officers in riot gear from the Denver Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department formed a ring around the detained protesters until finally letting them go about 8:15 p.m.
A line of Denver police in riot gear four officers deep now surrounds a much smaller group of detained protesters.
In their wake, the freed protesters left graffiti on the metal doors to the parking garage — including the phrase "Kill A Cop" with the "A" replaced by the "Anarchy" symbol.
The release of the detained protesters was negotiated by a small group of outside sympathizers with police, according to several people at the scene. It's unclear how many remain detained on 15th Street.
"I was scared for my rights," said Mario, 24, one of the first protesters released. He wouldn't give his last name. "This (stuff) isn't over. They (ticked) a lot of people off."
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