The heartbreaking story of 23-year-old Elijah McClain’s death has made waves through social media. Although McClain was killed last year while being detained by Denver police in Colorado, his story has recently gained widespread attention amid the movement to end police brutality. Thousands gathered outside the Aurora Police Department Saturday to call for justice in McClain’s death, who was in the custody of, and put in a chokehold by, Aurora police.
The peaceful demonstration was organized by the Denver chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the Denver Post reported. It began with a march and rally following a youth-led protest and violin vigil in a local park—to honor McClain who reportedly played the violin for sheltered kittens. While the demonstration began on a joyful note, officers in riot gear proceeded to disrupt the demonstration by first pushing protestors and musicians, then launching tear gas and pepper spray to clear demonstrators away from the police department building, according to Colorado Public Radio News.
The Aurora Police Department issued a statement Saturday that reports that tear gas was used are false, but admitted the use of pepper spray. “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 department said on Twitter. But while the threats of arrests continued, demonstrators did not get off the lawn and musicians continued to play.
According to the Associated Press, police in Aurora issued a statement Saturday before the event began saying they supported a peaceful protest but warned of those planning destruction. "Please remain peaceful, and do not hijack the messages being heard today,” the police department added on Twitter. Oddly, despite the threats they issued attendees Saturday, they even tweeted a thank you to those in attendance of the demonstrations. But no matter the police’s response, demonstrators remained positive and motivated to demand change.
Among the local musicians playing in honor of McClain were two renowned artists who flew in specially for the occasion. Six-time Grammy-nominated violinist Ashanti Floyd, from Atlanta, played uninterrupted to thousands of people in a separate vigil alongside Lee England, Jr. who is from New York.
"I see myself in him a lot. That easily could have been me in a lot of situations," Floyd said of McClain to 9 News. "I’ve heard about it for a long time but I just watched the video a couple of days ago. It really made me think about life and how blessed I am."
England Jr. reiterated Floyd’s thoughts stating: ”It was like, I saw myself in his story. That could have been me.” He added that he felt it was “necessary” to do his part. "At this point, I’m at a loss for words,” England Jr. said. “I don’t actually know what me showing up there is going to bring and how it’s going to impact the community. I just feel drawn, I feel called to show up."
The demonstration’s turnout felt like a blessing and depicted overwhelming support Keisha Mosley, McClain’s cousin, said Saturday. “At the end of the day, Elijah is not here anymore and as I have said before, I have Black sons and so it’s necessary. We need to be out here. They have got to be stopped," Mosley said.
Eliza Lucero, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, noted that while only a few advocated for McClain last year, millions now support the cause as awareness grows. "There was a small group of activists that tried to press to get the cops off the streets, to get murder charges put on them however there wasn't enough public attention brought to it to make real change," Lucero said. "In the current state of police brutality being on the forefront of many Americans' minds, what better time to bring back up Elijah McClain and the atrocity of his murder by the Aurora Police Department."
A Change.org petition seeking justice for McClain and demanding all officers involved in his death to be taken off duty garnered more than 4 million signatures this month. While placed on administrative leaving following McClain’s death the officers in the case, including Nathan Woodyard, Jason Rosenblatt, and Randy Roedema were later reinstated after prosecutors declined to file charges against them, CNN reported. On Thursday, following demands for justice across the country, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced that a special prosecutor would investigate McClain’s case.
