Denver NBC affiliate 9News is reporting that demonstrators surrounded the Aurora, Colorado, Police Department (APD) Friday evening to demand the remaining two officers involved in the death of Elijah McClain to be terminated from their jobs.
Protesters marched and gathered outside and maintained their position through the night and into Saturday, with a few protesters remaining at the precinct site through the morning, according to the station.
One police officer involved in McClain’s death already resigned after a recent image appeared depicting police reenacting the carotid hold near a memorial for McClain, the same chokehold used at the time of his death.
The officer who resigned reportedly replied, “HaHa” to the photo that was sent to him, and other officers involved said the image intended to “cheer up” their coworker.
The protests formed the same day APD released the image to the public, showing the officers smiling with the chokehold pose near McClain’s memorial.
The officers stopped McClain in August while walking on his way home from a convenience store. He was wearing a ski mask to help him stay warm due to anemia and aid his social anxieties, according to his family.
They put McClain into a carotid chokehold causing him to vomit and later injected him with Ketamine, which led him to have a heart attack.
Governor Jared Polis (D) announced last week Attorney General Phil Weiser (D) would reinvestigate McClain’s case as a special prosecutor.
Authorities reported the protests were peaceful as numerous demonstrators began dancing as a form of rebellion and in honor of McClain, who was reportedly dancing at the time of his arrest.
Watch:
Quick update from #APDOCCUPATION at @AuroraPD District 1. Elijah was dancing when police stopped him. Protesters say they’re dancing not to celebrate but to rebel. Protest has remained peaceful. No show of force from police. #9News pic.twitter.com/4PjIiXg6ya
— Ryan Haarer (@RyanHaarer) July 4, 2020
Protesters have instead turned to @AuroraPD District 1 on Montview. Group leaders say they’ll surround the precinct until APD agrees to fire remaining two officers involved in McClain’s death. #9News pic.twitter.com/KbT2nVnCSe
— Ryan Haarer (@RyanHaarer) July 4, 2020
