DENVER – More Colorado students left class Friday to protest recent decisions not to prosecute police officers in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City in the deaths of two unarmed black men.
About 400 students from several Aurora high school and middle schools converged on the Denver suburb’s municipal center.
Authorities temporarily locked down the court building, city hall and library during the protest. The protest was largely peaceful, but police said some students banged and spit on patrol cars.
About 150 students also protested at the state Capitol as officers stood watch on the West Steps.
Denver Public Schools reported that mostly small walkouts were staged at 16 schools Friday as officials encouraged students to demonstrate on campus instead. Students at Noel Community Arts School marched at the school and were encouraged to wear black clothing to show their support, school district spokesman Douglas Schepman said.
In Aurora, eighth-grader Bennie Mahonda walked about 5 miles to the municipal center, shouting “Hands up, don’t shoot” to honks from passing cars. She had her parents’ permission but promised her mother she would return to class after the demonstration, which she called “social studies outside of class.”
“It makes us kids feel unsafe, that we’re outsiders, enemies of society,” said Mahonda, who is black, of the decisions by the grand juries in the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases.
It was the third consecutive day of student protests in the Denver area about the grand jury decisions that started Wednesday when hundreds of students from Denver’s East High School marched to downtown. Denver officials are promising a series of forums to discuss race and law enforcement as a result of protests, but the plan comes amid tensions with the union representing the city’s police officers over an accident during a protest that left one officer critically injured.
Officer John Adsit was one of four officers hit by a car while monitoring the East High School protest.
The Denver Police Protective Association says several people in the crowd cheered and chanted “hit him again,” citing accounts from students and officers who were there. Association board member Vincent Gavito said it’s not clear whether the alleged cheers came from students or others who joined the crowd.
“It’s unbelievable that our society has decayed to the point that someone would cheer on someone with critical injuries, regardless of their profession,” he said.
In a statement from the police department, officials said they couldn’t confirm the allegations but added that, if they prove to be true, Chief Robert White does not believe they reflect the views of the vast majority of protesters.
The investigation into the crash itself involves over 100 witnesses and a report is not expected until next week.
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