Statues such as one in Washington, D.C., depicting Confederate General Albert Pike have become symbolic targets for protesters nationwide, prompting President Donald Trump to sign an executive order stating in part that "a penalty of up to ten years' imprisonment" can be imposed on anyone who damages a monument or statue on federal property. But unlike states in the American South, Colorado has few Confederate memorials; back in 2017, Denver7 could only find six, with just two of them on public land. So after taking down the Civil War Monument at the Capitol that actually depicted a Union soldier, locals took down a nearby salute to Christopher Columbus — and the city removed a Kit Carson statue before it could be targeted.
With these monuments gone, statuary options around the Capitol became quite limited, and vandals resorted to setting the base of the Civil War Monument ablaze. Here's a video of the results:
Neither the Denver Police Department nor the Colorado State Patrol, which handles security at the Capitol, have provided much information about the law enforcement action prompted by this conflagration, leaving Polis to take the lead.Someone has literally set the monument in front of the Capitol building on fire here in Denver. This is not a peaceful protest. The way to ensure your voices are heard is to VOTE. NOT BURN YOUR CITY DOWN! #denverprotests #ElijahMclain #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/B5EKovm6NO
— (@pinklaurenade) June 28, 2020
"Good news: Three suspects have been apprehended and we hope this also provides a breakthrough into other ongoing investigations regarding destruction of public property," he wrote on Twitter. "There is a right way and a wrong way to have an open and honest conversation about our history. Destruction and vandalism are not the answer. To be clear, no matter what your feelings about public art, our state respects the rule of law, and there are proper legal channels for reflection, conversation, and change."
The following day, Trump issued a tweet that addressed statue assaults in general. "Since imposing a very powerful 10 year prison sentence on those that Vandalize Monuments, Statues etc., with many people being arrested all over our Country, the Vandalism has completely stopped. Thank you!" he declared.
The rally for Elijah McClain on June 27 attracted hundreds of individuals, many of whom swarmed onto Interstate 225, temporarily shutting down the highway. But the portion of the lengthy demonstration that got the most attention was an Aurora police crackdown during the evening memorial, while violinists played in memory of McClain, as seen in this clip.
The U.K. Sun headlined its piece about what went down "BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY: Moving Elijah McClain violin vigil is stormed by riot police who pepper spray protesters in jarring footage."Musicians in Aurora Colorado honoring #ElijahMcClain by playing violins during a peaceful protest.. followed by a shot of the police coming to "intervene" in FULL riot gear. #BlackTransLivesMatter #JusticeForElijahMcClain pic.twitter.com/NpFrAAI7De
— Clown Thotty (@cannedclownass) June 28, 2020
The Aurora Police Department objected vociferously to assertions by 9News that "smoke" was used to clear protesters, tweeting, "Aurora Police Department did not use tear gas last night during the protest. The reports that we used tear gas are FALSE. Pepper spray was used after a small group of people gathered rocks/sticks, knocked over a fence & ignored orders to move back. Tear gas was not used."
The APD added that "three people were taken into custody for violating lawful orders after warnings were given."
No word about whether any of them was armed with a violin.
