Auraria Campus has second lockdown in days after protesters pitch tents inside
DENVER (KDVR) — Auraria Campus was placed on lockdown on Tuesday afternoon, marking two days in a row that the security measure was implemented amid ongoing protests against the war in Gaza.
Some 12 people were each issued a summons after protesters entered the Tivoli Student Union around 4 p.m. and set up tents inside the building, according to a Tuesday night release from the Auraria Higher Education Center.
“This is the second time this week that the Auraria Campus protest behavior has escalated beyond peaceful protest and continues to present operational challenges and disruptions,” reads a statement from the campus.
The protesters “yelled chants and banged on trash cans,” and other protesters who tried to enter the building from the outside “were not permitted” because the building was on modified access, the release said. Campus police arrived about 30 minutes later and warned the demonstrators to leave, and while “some left peacefully,” 12 who remained were issued summonses on trespassing and interference,” according to the release.
Auraria Campus issued an “emergency alert” on social media at 4:48 p.m. and urged people to stay away from the area. A 6:20 p.m. post said the campus had “resumed normal operations,” but the Tivoli was to remain closed until Wednesday.
10 Auraria protesters face charges after occupation that put campus on lockdown
The Denver chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, which is leading the Auraria demonstrations, had urged people to attend an “emergency rally” at 4 p.m.
The group made a similar call to rally on Monday afternoon, saying campus administrators “need to understand that we are still demanding divestment and are keeping the pressure high.”
The campus was soon locked down on Monday after more than a dozen protesters entered the University of Colorado Denver Student Commons building, according to a release later that evening from Auraria Higher Education Center. The 10 people who remained in a “restricted space” in the building on Monday were each issued a summons on trespassing, interference and disturbing the peace, according to the release.
Pro-Palestine protests continue in Denver
The campus has been the site of a pro-Palestine encampment in recent weeks, where students have demonstrated around the campus and occupied buildings in protest of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and in defense of the Palestinian people. Dozens have faced arrest and more have been issued summonses because of the demonstrations.
Auraria Campus demonstrators, led by the Denver chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, are demanding the universities on campus condemn Israel’s war in Gaza as genocide on Palestinians, divest from the country and sever any academic ties.
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The campus is home to Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Colorado Denver and Community College of Denver. All three schools held commencement ceremonies last week.
Auraria Campus operations, along with MSU Denver and CU Denver, continue to operate normally, but Community College of Denver moved to remote operations on April 29, according to a campus notice on Tuesday.
A similar encampment was established last week at the University of Denver campus.
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