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Demonstrators at University of Denver gather at pro-Palestinian encampment amid order to leave

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Demonstrators at University of Denver gather at pro-Palestinian encampment amid order to leave


Hundreds of people gathered at a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Denver on Tuesday after an email from the university asked encampment participants to leave by 9 p.m.

By 9:30 p.m., CBS News Colorado footage shows hundreds of people gathered at the Cargenie Green near the center of campus, many holding Palestinian flags or signs expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Around 7 p.m., the university sent an email to students and faculty with that 9 p.m. deadline to clear out of the encampment.

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Hundreds of people appeared at a pro-Palestinian encampment at Carnegie Green on the University of Denver campus on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

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“We’ve lost confidence that the encampment can continue without further compromising operations and safety for all campus members. At an extended and productive meeting with encampment participants today, we informed them that the camp must close and asked them to clear the area voluntarily by 9:00 p.m. on May 21,” the email says, in part. “We have offered our support to the encampment participants as they safely remove belongings. If participants choose not to voluntarily leave, the University will determine appropriate action to disband the camp. We have also offered our support to identify other safe avenues of free expression.”

Around 9:50 p.m., a small number of counter-protesters appeared, at least one of whom was waving an Israeli flag.

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A small number of pro-Israel counterprotesters appeared at a demonstration at a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Denver on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

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The university sent an updated statement from Chancellor Jeremy Haefner and Provost Mary Clark around 10 p.m. to students and faculty:

“As you are likely aware, there is a large demonstration at the encampment site. During our meeting with the encampment student representatives today, we articulated multiple times that there were no plans to have police or campus safety dismantle the encampment tonight. We shared our desire to resolve this through a voluntary and cooperative approach. It was our expectation that the encampment would be dismantled by 9 p.m. and our interactions with the encampment participants indicated that was realistic to expect. We are disappointed that this is not what has happened and that participants chose this path forward, which is serving only to further threaten campus safety and operations. In the days ahead, University officials will determine the next steps in moving toward the disbandment of the camp. It is our continued expectation that all encampment participants be affiliated with DU as a current student, faculty, or staff member.”

Organizers with the group DU for Palestine did not immediately respond to a request for comments about the demonstration Tuesday night, but on May 9, when they launched the encampment, they issued demands to the university. 

In that statement, the organization asked the university to disclose its investments, divest from companies “invested in and responsible for the illegal occupation, apartheid, and genocide of Palestinians,” boycott Israel economically and academically, publicly acknowledge “the ongoing genocide of Palestinians,” call for a ceasefire and “protect free speech on campus.”

A similar encampment at Auraria Campus, which had been up for about three weeks, was vacated on Saturday.

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Denver, CO

Armed man killed in Commerce City police shooting after standoff

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Armed man killed in Commerce City police shooting after standoff


A 29-year-old armed man was shot and killed by officers after a nearly five-hour standoff Friday, according to Commerce City police .

Police officers and SWAT team members responded to a home in the 6700 block of East 72nd Avenue about 2 p.m. Friday for an “armed and barricaded suspect” who was wanted on suspicion of a domestic violence assault from earlier in the day.

The man briefly held a maintenance worker hostage inside the home before the worker escaped on his own, police said in a news release. The man refused to surrender and threatened to shoot police officers even after hours of conversation with negotiators, according to the department.

The man “was eventually shot by police” and died at the scene despite officers providing medical aid, the department  said Friday. His name will be released by the Adams County coroners office.

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The 17th Judicial District is investigating the shooting.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

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Denver, CO

Tubing ban rescinded for Boulder Creek

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Tubing ban rescinded for Boulder Creek


Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson will rescind the tubing ban for Boulder Creek, effective at 5 p.m. today.

According to a release, deputies will be removing the posted signage by the creek.

The initial restrictions took effect on June 12, due to high water flow from melted snow.

The closure encompassed Boulder Creek from below Boulder Falls at Boulder Canyon Drive to 55th Street, according to the release.

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Although water levels have fallen, officers advised to be aware that the water conditions still may not be safe for your skill and comfort level.

Police also recommended to always use caution and wear personal safety equipment while recreating near bodies of water.

Examples of personal safety equipment include a personal flotation device or life jacket, a drysuit or wetsuit, and a helmet.

Those using water sport equipment like tubes or kayaks, are asked to place their name and contact information on the equipment in the event that they lose it in the water.

The tubing ban for the St. Vrain Creek was lifted on Thursday.

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Denver, CO

Denver district attorney candidates make final pitches to voters

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Denver district attorney candidates make final pitches to voters


DENVER (KDVR)- Candidates in primary races are entering into the home stretch with ballot boxes closing Tuesday.

There are some hotly contested races in Denver, including the race for the next district attorney. With no Republican running for the seat, the two Democratic candidates are going all in ahead of the primary election.

Two Democrats with significant legal careers are going head-to-head in hopes of becoming Denver’s next district attorney. They are each making their final pitches to a group of voters who are notorious for turning in their ballots just before they close.

John Walsh and Leora Joseph are battling to become Denver’s next district attorney.

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Walsh served as U.S. Attorney during the Obama administration. Joseph is the director of the state’s Office of Behavioral Health. They both have some high-profile endorsements from influential figures across the state, but Walsh earned the endorsement of D.A. Beth McCann. Walsh wants voters to know he’s looking to reenergize the office while still holding people accountable.

“That depth of connection to the Denver metro community I think really matters. It’s that experience as a prosecutor but also a really, intimate understanding of this entire city that will make a difference,” Walsh said. “While I’m very proud to have Beth McCann’s endorsement, I’m not Beth McCann 2.0. In terms of what I would differently, I think we really have to focus on the problems we’ve got right in front of us. That includes a stubbornly high violent crime rate in Denver and an unfortunately increasing youth violence rate. That’s an area I would come at with vigor to make sure we are approaching it both to prosecute the small number of people both who are truly dangerous to the community but also that we work with the community to get young people opportunities to stay out of cultures that can lead to violence.”

Walsh also said he would focus on prosecuting drug dealers in an effort to curb the fentanyl epidemic and using the criminal justice system to get people treatment. He also said he wants to crack down on car theft.

Joseph wants voters to know she plans to prosecute crime but she also wants to use her background in behavioral health to bring a compassionate approach to what she says is a mental health crisis in the city.

“My central message: I’m running on change. If you think we need to change how public safety is being administered in this city, I’m your candidate,” Joseph said. “I think we need to handle public safety and the justice system differently. The biggest change that I am going to make is how the office is organized. Teams of prosecutors need to be in community and working hand-in-hand with police and community agencies, community organizations, the schools, nonprofits, mental health, we need to be a seat at the table and all of us need to be rowing in the same boat. I am committed to prosecuting crime, I am committed to not ignoring crime and I am committed to finding alternative solutions and pathways for people who are really struggling. When I talk about not ignoring crime, we’ve got to handle it. But what we’ve learned is that prison doesn’t work for everybody; prison isn’t the only option we need to do better. And the work I get to do now looks at models across the country. Where are local municipalities making change? That’s where I’ve been able to learn about how we use our court system and move people into treatment.”

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Both candidates are touting their experience as reasons for voters to support them.

“I actually have the experience of running a large prosecution office successfully, not just internally but with respect to the community and to other government agencies and to the state,” Walsh said pointing to his experience as U.S. Attorney. “I was the top federal prosecutor for the state and was in that position for essentially [President Obama’s] entire administration. The reason I focus on that is because it’s a very specific job running a big prosecution office and to be successful at it, you have to be able to collaborate with a whole range of folks: people actually in the community, other government agencies, the state government, the federal government, those are things I’ve all done and done with success.”

“I understand he’s held a federal position and that isn’t this job. This job involves managing teams at a local level, involved in local government and that’s the work I’ve been doing: at the local level in Colorado. Managing teams and working in the District Attorney’s Office which is a unique set of laws and working at the state level- not in the D.C. federal system,” Joseph said.

Regardless of their differences in backgrounds and where they stand on policy, both candidates are encouraging voters to get those ballots in as soon as possible before polls close Tuesday night.

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