10 Auraria protesters face charges after occupation that put campus on lockdown

Lanie Lee Cook
·2 min read
4

DENVER (KDVR) — The Auraria Campus was placed on lockdown on Monday afternoon and 10 people face charges after pro-Palestine protesters occupied “restricted space” in a campus building, according to university officials.

The campus has been the site of pro-Palestine protests for weeks. Monday’s demonstrations led to a police response that put the campus on lockdown for around an hour.

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“Protesters entered the building, specifically the Bursar’s Office on the fifth floor, and accessed and occupied restricted space,” Auraria Higher Education Center said in a release on Monday evening. “After several warnings to leave, the Auraria Campus was put on lockdown to allow for the safe evacuation of staff in the area and to assess the situation.”

While “many” left the space and continued their demonstration outside, 10 remained, according to the release. They were each issued a summons on trespassing, interference and disturbing the peace and “were immediately released.”

Auraria Campus was placed on lockdown on Monday afternoon as police responded to the area, which has been the site of pro-Palestine protests for weeks. SkyFOX took these images of protestors outside the building on May 13, 2024.
Auraria Campus was placed on lockdown on Monday afternoon as police responded to the area, which has been the site of pro-Palestine protests for weeks. SkyFOX took these images of protestors outside the building on May 13, 2024.

Pro-Palestine demonstrations put Denver campus on lockdown

The demonstration began just after 4 p.m. when “more than a dozen” protesters marched from the Tivoli Quad protest encampment to the CU Denver Student Commons building, according to the release.

Auraria Campus posted an “emergency alert” at 4:44 p.m. “due to police activity at Student Commons Building” and said the campus was locked down.

SkyFOX flew over the scene to find pro-Palestine protesters marching around the campus. The Auraria Campus release said the lockdown was lifted around 5:48 p.m.

Pro-Palestinian protesters continue to camp on the Tivoli Quad at the Auraria Campus in Denver as seen from SkyFOX on May 3, 2024.
Pro-Palestinian protesters continue to camp on the Tivoli Quad at the Auraria Campus in Denver as seen from SkyFOX on May 3, 2024.

Auraria 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. Dozens have faced arrest and more have been issued summonses because of the demonstrations.

“We continue to balance the legal right to free speech with the need to keep our community safe and the campus focused on teaching and learning,” the release reads. “This is the latest example of how Auraria Campus protester behavior has escalated in unacceptable ways.”

Protesters at DU refuse to show ID; university discusses disciplinary action

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.

Meanwhile, a similar protest that began last week at the University of Denver continued on Monday.

The group DU for Palestine has been set up there since last week with demands similar to those at other schools. Those include demands for the disclosure of investments tied to Israel and the divestment from them.

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