Protester breaking out window of Aurora Courthouse. [Radical Edward - Untelevised Media]

A protest demanding justice for Elijah McClain in Aurora, CO turned violent on Saturday. After a vehicle attack with gunfire exchange on I-225 already extremely high tensions were escalated by anger. Just before sunset the protest arrived back at the court house and was officially dispersed by the organizers, cutting the size of the crowd in half. Shortly after dark Anarchist began to fire mortar style fireworks at Aurora police. They began to tare down the newly installed fence and rip the plywood protecting the windows down, windows were smashed out and several fireworks were shot into the offices of the court house causing a few small fires that self extinguished.

Smashed out windows and broken glass on ground at Aurora Courthouse. [Aurora police file photo]

A City Already at its Breaking Point.

Protesters square off against Aurora riot police before de-erecting the fence. [Radical Edward - Untelevised Media]

Protest in Aurora turned chaotic after APD allowed a Jeep onto Occupied I-225. The Jeep rushed towards protesters and gun fire exchanged between a protester and the Jeep. This fueled anger felt by protesters both over recent events involving the federal crackdown on unrest, and the lack of action on the Elijah McClain case.

The recent George Floyd protest were merely a flash point in the Denver, Aurora & Boulder areas of Colorado. One of the cases fueling the unrest locally as well as nationwide is that APD killing of Elijah McClain. Over the course of the previous few weeks federal agents have begun to crackdown on the civil unrest, not only in Colorado, but in hot spots around the country. This federal crack down has only served to produce the opposite effect of what was intended and have fueled further anger and resistance in many cities.

The events of the preceding afternoon left many protesters enraged, and once the march arrived back at the courthouse, the organizers had no plans, or intentions to deal with that rage. Officially the protest that occupier I-225 earlier in the afternoon was over.

Mortar shell fireworks hitting police line behind fence at Aurora Courthouse. [Denver 7 Aerial Stream Screenshot]]

The Powder Keg Explodes (Literally)

As the march returned to the courthouse the sun was just beginning to set and organizers wrapped up, and attempted to disperse the crowd rather quickly. About half of the crowd remained in front of the police department, fuming over the events that transpired on I-225.

Protesters then began to shake the fence that was just installed to replace the typical style barricades. This quickly escalated with protesters throwing objects over the fence while shouting "Bring out the Feds!", a dispersal order was given immediately.

That dispersal order was met with mortar shell fireworks being fired dirctly into the police line. Officers began to scramble about as their line broke apart, they attempted to defend against the firework attack as several more rounds were fired into what was left of their formation.

Firework shot into window of Aurora Courthouse [Radical Edward - Untelevised Media]

As the police line broke, a group began to rip down the plywood protection covering the windows of the courthouse. The plywood was acquisitioned to make shields, while others smashed out the windows of the courthouse. Once the windows were opened up several more fireworks were shot into the offices through the windows, starting a few small fires that self extinguished after a few minuets. A few protesters also entered the courthouse offices through the windows and trashed them up a bit lighting a few small trashcan fires.

The entire group quickly retreated before police could form up and receive an order to react. Protesters then began to form solid lines using the plywood and other materials, they moved their line onto Alameda Ave and shut down both directions of traffic at the intersection in front of the court house.

Before dispersing protesters spent about a half hour working to improve their techniques and addressed the issues that allowed for the I-225 attack earlier in the day.

When the Smoke Settled

• Damage: Protesters smashed over 20 windows, and a small fire was started in a courthouse office. Portions of the newly erected protective fence were destroyed. The crowd caused more than $74,000 in property damage.
• Trapped Employees: At least five city employees were trapped inside the municipal building while the rioters amassed outside.
• Improvised Weapons: Rioters stripped away protective plywood boarding from the building and used those heavy boards to to construct barricades and shields.
• Law Enforcement Response: Aurora police declared the demonstration an "unlawful protest," and firefighters extinguished some of the fires before they could spread to the rest of the building.
• Following Day: Because the interior was heavily damaged, 27 court employees had to return the following day to work directly inside the fire-damaged rubble.

Aftermath: Aurora PD's brand new fence breeched by protesters [Denver 7]

Aftermath: Multiple windows smashed out of courthouse. [Denver 7]

Aftermath: More smashed out windows at Aurora courthouse. [Denver 7]