The state's largest planned protest is scheduled in Denver, and hopes to build on the success of the 50501 Movement's April 5 "Hands Off!" protest. (That action saw more than 8,000 people rally at the Colorado State Capitol, according to numbers from the Colorado State Patrol.) Other towns and communities are also planning their own protests in solidarity with the demonstrations expected to happen nationwide.
Colorado protesters will have to deal with cold weather and potential precipitation as well, with gray skies and a high of 47 degrees predicted in Denver. Organizers are again using "Hands Off!" for the name of today's protest at the Capitol, but a few places in Colorado are using slogans like "No Kings" or "Stand Up" for their demonstrations.
Leadership behind these protests is often intentionally decentralized, but groups involved have shared information online. Here's what you need to know if you plan to turn out to protest in Denver or elsewhere in Colorado:
When is Denver's Next 50501 Protest?
In Denver, the Hands Off! protest begins at noon today, but the crowd usually starts to build up before then. The protest is expected to finish at 4 p.m., according to online flyers, but similar protests have gone on for hours longer than the planned stop time, and sometimes lead to marches downtown.Where is the Protest?
Denver's protest will be at the west lawn of the Colorado State Capitol Building facing Lincoln Street.According to the Weather Channel, the forecast includes a high of 50 degrees, snow showers in the morning and a mostly cloudy day.
The permit for the protest expects 1,000 people at the Capitol's west lawn, but the permit for April 5 underestimated the turnout by about 5,000 people. The turnout for protests since February 5 has gone up and down, but April 5 had the largest turnout for protests since then, with the exception of the Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rally on March 21, which brought out over 30,000 people.
Who Is Organizing Denver's protest?
In Denver, the main organizer is 50501 Colorado, a local chapter of the national group. The international gender equality activist groups Raise Her Voice and Women's Strike are also listed on today's event permit, along with Indivisible Denver, a local chapter of Indivisible, which is a progressive activist group that formed in response to Trump's first election victory in 2016.The April 19 protest is the idea of the 50501 Movement, a national activist group that formed to continue the success of the Fifty State Protest on February 5. The 50501 Movement was behind the nationwide protests on April 5, as well as other large demonstrations, such as a rally on Presidents' Day in February and the March 4th for Democracy protest.
Other protests happening around Colorado were planned by local groups like the Longmont Area Democrats, the Douglas County CO Activism Task Force and the Pagosa Springs March for Equality organizers.
How to Get Involved
50501 Colorado has an online volunteer sign-up form. Raise Her Voice also has an online volunteer form to connect people with protest organizers in their area.Protest organizers often rely on volunteers as safety marshals, for setting up sound systems and for delivering food, water and first aid. According to Raise Her Voice, volunteers are also needed as legal observers to document interactions with law enforcement and protect people's rights, sign language interpreters and media liaisons to talk to the press.
How to Get There
Traffic tends to get backed up during large protests at the Capitol, especially on Lincoln Street, Broadway and Colfax Avenue. Marches often go onto Speer Boulevard and can back up that road, too.Protesters planning on driving should consider parking a few blocks away from the Colorado State Capitol and walking to the protest.
RTD bus lines like the 0, 15 and 16 can leave you right in front of the action with stops on East Colfax Avenue and Broadway or East 13th Avenue and Lincoln Street. The RTD light rail doesn't have any stops like that, but its downtown stops on 16th Street or 10th Avenue and Osage Street should be less than a half-hour walk away from the Capitol. You can find your closest lines and stops on the RTD online system map.
Other Colorado Protests Happening on April 19
Plans have surfaced for protests in Colorado from Alamosa to Greeley during the past couple of days. Protesters can find their nearest marches and rallies with the help of an uncredited online spreadsheet.
The earliest protests will start at 10 a.m. in Bayfield and Westcliffe. The protest in Bayfield, a town of less than 3,000, is being planned as a community potluck. Douglas County organizers will start their protest in Lone Tree at 11:45 a.m.
The earliest protests will start at 10 a.m. in Bayfield and Westcliffe. The protest in Bayfield, a town of less than 3,000, is being planned as a community potluck. Douglas County organizers will start their protest in Lone Tree at 11:45 a.m.
Greeley and Longmont will start at 1 p.m., and Durango will start at 2:30 p.m.
Colorado Springs and Bayfield are the only two cities planning to rally around their town or city halls, while others will be at parks, prominent intersections or along major roads. The protest in Northglenn aims to take over a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 25 to put up signs and flags facing motorists. Salida and Berthoud protesters will also be lining major roads in their towns.
