Collegian.com
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Vol. 130, No. 1
Demand for change places spotlight on Fort Collins Police Services By Laura Studley @laurastudley_
Since the first ship arrived in North America housing slaves in 1619, Black people have been fighting for their basic human rights, and they are still fighting — about four centuries later. Residents of Fort Collins are no exception. Protests have been organized in the wake of the recent killing of Minneapolis resident George Floyd. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused many to lose their jobs or work with reduced hours, giving them time to raise their voices. Protester and 12-year Fort Collins resident Queen Johnson said that it is naive to believe that systemic racism cannot exist in your own backyard. “We need to make sure we get the people in office,” Johnson said. “We need to let them know that Black and brown lives matter. We fucking matter, stop fucking killing us.” It has been 17 days since Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, according to court documents from
Swoboda addressed the killing to reduce police involvement with the state of Minnesota. In that time, Floyd was unresponsive for two of Floyd in two statements released cases surrounding mental health minutes and 53 seconds while three by Fort Collins Police Services, pro- and drug addiction. There is no funding that goes viding responses to questions that other officers stood by watching. “Police are trained that this type have been asked related to hiring, directly toward the police department, Troxell said. The City does of restraint with a subject in a prone training, accountability and trust. “Every person deserves to feel not “budget-fund” departments, position is inherently dangerous,” safe when encountering law en- but rather the funds go toward crethe document read. ating safe, livable neighborhoods In Fort Collins, the police are forcement,” Swoboda said. that enable a larger comworking to “engage and munity connection. create genuine connec“Fort Collins has been tions” with community “Stand up for what’s right and expect very progressive in dealmembers as an effective it. We’ve been taught from a young ing with and assessing way to build cultural understanding and implicit age (to) treat people how you want to how we provide ... a safe, livable community in bias awareness, according be treated, and that should be driven the broadest sense of the to Fort Collins Police Chief across all race, gender, sex preference, word for everyone,” TroxJeff Swoboda. “Our training, anything. Black lives matter. Keep ell said. “We’re building some mechanisms that accountability systems, protesting. Keep fighting.” can address (that) in a culture and community friendly, forward-thinking engagement efforts JAMIR CONSTANCE ... way.” support (the fight against RECENT HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT GRADUATE OF CSU FCPS’ police transracial inequality),” parency page details what Swoboda said. “We goes into anti-bias trainwill continue to invite Fort Collins has less police offi- ing, reviews de-escalation and use meaningful discussions internally and externally with our colleagues cers per 100,000 people compared of force, highlights ethics and more. According to the website page, and community members of to other communities, according color to better understand local to Fort Collins Mayor Wade Trox- an emphasis is placed on trust and barriers, fears, perceptions and ell. Other community-oriented transparency to sustain a healthy programs have been introduced relationship with the Fort Collins opportunities for improvement.”
COVER PHOTOS (LEFT TO RIGHT) BY BEN LEONARD, SKYLER PRADHAN, MATT TACKETT AND LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
community. When the community speaks up, especially in such a powerful, peaceful manner as they have during the protests, it is the job of officers to listen and reflect, Swoboda said. “If there’s not a reasonable threat to your life, then you shouldn’t be afraid,” Amber Jensen, a protester, said. “In all honesty, you’ve been trained — there’s other methods to subdue somebody beyond using a weapon. If they don’t see a physical weapon, they should not be able to pull a weapon. They should not be able to put their full body weight on another human being.” Pastor and protester David A. Williams Jr. said he is tired of having to come to the protests and rallies and is tired of the killings. “We are not only fighting COVID-19, we are fighting other things, and we gotta stay together,” Williams Jr. said. “It is a right from God that all of us were created equal, that all of us have the same mandates.”
see CHANGE on page 8 >>
2| Thursday, June 11, 2020 Lory Student Center Suite 118 Fort Collins, CO 80523 This publication is not an official publication of Colorado State University but is published by an independent corporation using the name “The Rocky Mountain Collegian” pursuant to a license granted by CSU. The Rocky Mountain Collegian is a 4,000-circulation student-run newspaper intended as a public forum. It publishes two days a week during the regular fall and spring semesters. During the first four weeks of summer, The Collegian does not publish. During the last eight weeks of summer, The Collegian publishes online Monday through Thursday. Corrections may be submitted to the editor in chief and will be printed as necessary on page two. The Collegian is a complimentary publication for the Fort Collins community. The first copy is free. Additional copies are 25 cents each. Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@collegian.com.
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Hundreds of protesters stand and listen to speakers in Old Town Square to protest police brutality June 5. PHOTO BY DEVIN CORNELIUS THE COLLEGIAN
A brief introduction to #BlackLivesMatter and Colorado By Serena Bettis @serenaroseb
#BlackLivesMatter support posts and arguments are trending on all social media platforms since the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died due to a Minneapolis police officer placing his knee on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi cre-
ated the #BlackLivesMatter movement in 2013 after 17-year-old Trayvon Martin’s death and the subsequent acquittal of the man who fatally shot him, George Zimmerman. According to blacklivesmatter.com, the project is now a member-led global network of more than 40 chapters. “As organizers who work with everyday people, BLM members see and understand significant gaps in movement
spaces and leadership,” the website reads. “Black liberation movements in this country have created room, space and leadership mostly for Black heterosexual, cisgender men — leaving women, queer and transgender people and others either out of the movement or in the background to move the work forward with little or no recognition.” The movement grew in strength in August 2014 after
“I don’t know if we have ever experienced this kind of global challenge to racism and to the consequences of slavery and colonialism.” ANGELA DAVIS POLITICAL ACTIVIST AND AUTHOR
the shooting of Michael Brown, a Black 18-year-old, by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Outraged over Brown’s death, the Ferguson community protested for 10 days straight, rallying supporters close to home and on social media. Colorado producer, storyteller and filmmaker Anthony Grimes founded the Denver Freedom Riders in 2014 to bring protesters from Denver to Ferguson to stand with the people on the ground in Ferguson and St. Louis. However, protests at the
same scale of those in Ferguson did not break out across the country in the weeks following Brown’s death. It was not until November 2014, when a grand jury decided not to indict the officer who killed Brown, Darren Wilson, that protesters across the country showed their support by gathering in the hundreds in their own cities. In response, Denver students at East High School organized a walkout that drew nearly 1,000 supporters, and community members marched along streets in downtown.
On June 9, a video interview with activist and author Angela Davis was posted on Twitter by the Channel 4 News out of the United Kingdom. Davis said that change has to come in many forms. “What we are seeing now are new demands,” Davis said. “Demands to demilitarize the police, demands to defund the police, demands to dismantle the police and envision different modes of public safety. We’re asked now to consider how we might imagine justice in the future.” This merely scratches
the surface of the action the #BlackLivesMatter movement has taken in Colorado and beyond. The BLM website hosts countless stories on local activists and the work they do in their communities, and local activist organizations and history resources are only a Google search away. “This is a very exciting moment,” Davis said. “I don’t know if we have ever experienced this kind of global challenge to racism and to the consequences of slavery and colonialism.” Serena Bettis can be reached at news@collegian.com.
05 /26 :
Hundreds of Minneapolis residents rallied in the streets to call for PR justice for Floyd after video OT DE ES footage of his death AT TS surfaced on Facebook. HO IN FG Minneapolis MI Crowds marched EO NN about 2.5 miles resident RG EA George Floyd, a EF PO to the police LO LIS precinct. 46-year-old Black man, YD BE was killed by a white police GIN officer, Derek Chauvin, after Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds while Floyd was handcuffed facedown in the street. According to court documents, two minutes and 53 seconds of this was after Floyd was unresponsive.
05 /2 5:
05/27: MORE PROTESTS SPIKE ACROSS THE NATION
Black Lives Matter: A 2020 protest timeline
05/26: MINNEAPOLIS POLICE FIRES ALL FOUR OFFICERS INVOLVED
By Serena Bettis & Laura Studley Design by Amy Noble
06/01: MAYOR HANCOCK ANNOUNCES CURFEW EXTENSION
The Minneapolis police chief, Medaria Arradondo, made the decision to fire all officers as well as launch an FBI investigation into Floyd’s death.
The curfew in Denver extended from its original date of June 1 to June 4. Additionally, the mayor extended the curfew time to 9 p.m.
06/01: POLICE CHIEF SWOBODA RELEASES ANOTHER STATEMENT Swoboda addresses the removal of memorial posters and candles in front of the police station on Facebook and the FCPS website, saying they do so each night because they do not have “a mechanism to store/preserve this property.”
05/27: FIRES AND LOOTING OCCUR NEAR 3RD PRECINCT IN MINNEAPOLIS
To quell outbreaks of property damage 05 DE /30 and violence between police and CL : D AR EN protesters, Denver Mayor Michael ES VE Hancock placed a curfew from 8 IRS NIG R M p.m. to 5 a.m through June 1 TP HT AYO after Denver saw days of RO LY R T ES CU MI protesting. “We have Protesters T RF CH seen enough,” BE marched EW AE G L H Hancock INS through Denver AN said. to show solidarity IN CO DE with Minneapolis and CK NV demand justice for George ER Floyd. Denver police deployed tear gas to dispel protesters in the streets.
People burn a car in the Target parking lot at Lake Street and Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis May 28. PHOTO BY BEN LEONARD THE COLLEGIAN
05/29: FORT COLLINS COMMUNITY HOLDS VIGIL FOR FLOYD 05/28: INTERNATIONAL PROTESTS BEGIN
Fort Collins residents gathered outside the FCPS station on Timberline Road to honor Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other lives lost to police brutality.
05/31: TWO FORT COLLINS RESIDENTS AND MOTHERS ORGANIZE A “WALK OF SOLIDARITY” The walk around Sheldon Lake in City Park intended to give residents a chance to practice embodied activism and show their support for the protests across the U.S.
05 MU /29 RD : CH ER AU AN VIN DS C The EC HAR ON G Minnesota D E Bureau of Criminal -DE D W Apprehension arrested GRE ITH E M THI Chauvin Friday morning. AN RDHe faces charges that carry SL DE AU GR a combined maximum 35-year GH EE sentence. TE R
Countries outside the U.S. begin protesting, including Liberia and Nigeria with others joining in the days to follow.
06/05: DENVER CURFEW LIFTED
05/28: FIRST STATEMENT RELEASED BY FORT COLLINS POLICE SERVICES
Denver protesters filed a lawsuit on June 4 against Denver police, claiming their actions violated protesters’ constitutional rights. The next day, a U.S. District Court ordered Denver police to stop use of tear gas, plastic bullets and flash grenades.
06/05: DENVER POLICE ORDERED TO STOP USE OF “LESS-THAN-LETHAL” FORCE
Fort Collins Police Services Chief Jeff Swoboda released his first statement discussing the importance of safety in regards to law enforcement, including how FCPS is staying accountable for their actions.
06/05: PROTEST IN OLD TOWN Protesters gathered in Old Town Square and marched through the City to rally against police brutality and police in the Poudre School District. Protesters also made a mural for Breonna Taylor outside the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
05/28: MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR ASKS FOR DEPLOYMENT OF NATIONAL GUARD Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey asked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to deploy the National Guard in response to protests. Walz sent nearly 60 state troopers to Minneapolis. Kev Kat Martinez holds a candle outside of Fort Collins Police Services May 29. PHOTO BY MATT TACKETT THE COLLEGIAN
A man speaks to the crowd of protesters in Old Town Square, Fort Collins June 5. PHOTO BY DEVIN CORNELIUS THE COLLEGIAN
“If a city or a state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them,” President Donald Trump said.
06/01: TWO AUTOPSIES RULE FLOYD’S DEATH A HOMICIDE
Protesters lead chants in front of a line of police officers in Kansas City, Missouri, May 31. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
05 /28 :F
06/01: TRUMP TALKS OF DEPLOYING MILITARY ON PROTESTS
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office said Floyd’s death was not only caused by neck compression but possibly heart disease and drug use of both fentanyl and methamphetamines. The independent autopsy ordered by Floyd’s family concluded that Floyd had passed away due to Chauvin kneeling on his neck and the other officers holding Floyd down. There was “no underlying medical problem that caused or contributed to his death,” according to Dr. Michael Baden, the former chief medical examiner of New York City. A national guardsman stands on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., overlooking the Washington Monument and reflective pool June 6. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
06/02: BLM AND RACIAL UNITY MARCH AT THE OVAL
06/02: PROTESTERS ASK CITY COUNCIL FOR A PERMANENT MEMORIAL SPACE FOR GEORGE FLOYD
Protesters gathered at The Oval for the independently organized march that finished at City Hall along Howes Street.
FCPS moved the memorial site due to inclement weather and inadequate storage. Objects such as memorial posters and burned candles were donated to the Museum of Discovery to be preserved and archived as a piece of national and Fort Collins history.
06 /03 :
06/03: SENATE BILL 217 INTRODUCED TO HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison charged Sponsored by all of Colorado’s Democratic lawmakers, 06/03: COLORADO former police officers, Tou Thao, J. this bill seeks to require “body-worn cameras to their BLACK ROUND TABLE TH threeAlexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, with officers and requires all recordings of an incident be RE MEETS ONLINE E F aiding and abetting the murder of released to the public within 14 days after the incident,” OR Several Black speakers, repeal the “fleeing felon rule,” which allows officers to ME Floyd. Chauvin’s charges were R O elevated to second-degree including Hancock, met use deadly force on a potential suspect if it is believed FF murder from third-degree, virtually to discuss the to be reasonably necessary, banning chokeholds, 06 ICE requiring an annual report to be made about each RS according to NBC News. racial crisis in the U.S. and FL /04 the impact it has on Denver agency’s use of force, as well as require cops to have an OY : M C HA D I EM and the metro area. “objective justification” for making stops. RG N M OR E D INN IAL EA HE PO LD 06 LIS FO /0 F R RG OM 8: P Over 100 students, alumni and faculty gathered outside EO TH ROT the PSD administration building Monday afternoon. RG E P ES Demands included that PSD teach anti-racism E OU TER and more inclusive history and act upon DR S D E S EM instances of bias and hate with more than CH AN an emailed statement. OO D L D AC IST TIO RIC N 06 T PO /07: LIC M 06/08: JOYCE MCCONNELL SENDS EMAIL E D INN REGARDING RACIST SOCIAL MEDIA POST E E Nine PA APO The post has been reported to Student Conduct RT L City I M Services and CSU’s Bias Assessment Team, S Council EN CI according to the email. The president T TY members C said she was “disgusted” and O — a veto-proof UN “angry” with the behavior and majority — announced CIL that the impact of such a to protesters Sunday PL ED post is “visceral and afternoon their vow to GE painful” to the CSU begin the process of ending the ST community. OD Minneapolis Police Department. ISB AN D
"WHEN ALL THIS STARTED, PEOPLE SAID, ‘WELL PROTESTS AREN'T GOING TO DO NOTHING, RIOTS AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING, BEING LOUD ISN'T GONNA DO ANYTHING, SHOWING UP NOT GONNA DO NOTHING,’ AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF LEGISLATION CHANGE BECAUSE OF IT.” DEMETERICE LANGSTON PROTESTER AND SPEAKER
1. A protester holds up a Black Rams Matter sign in The Oval. PHOTO BY MATT TACKETT THE COLLEGIAN 2. A protester claps as a speaker talks to the crowd in Old Town Square. PHOTO BY DEVIN CORNELIUS THE COLLEGIAN 3. Protesters march up Larimer Street toward Civic Center Park in Denver. PHOTO BY SKYLER PRADHAN THE COLLEGIAN 4. Protesters gather while Tay Anderson speaks to the crowd in Denver. PHOTO BY SKYLER PRADHAN THE COLLEGIAN 5. Protesters on top of and next to a parking garage in Kansas City, Missouri. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN 6. A protester walks up to police officers and holds a sign in Kansas City, Missouri. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN 7. Protesters listen to speakers at a protest in Bethesda, Maryland. PHOTO BY ANNA VON PECHMANN THE COLLEGIAN 8. Marieke Nebel speaks to a crowd of protesters in Bethesda, Maryland. PHOTO BY ANNA VON PECHMANN THE COLLEGIAN 9. A protester sits beneath the Black Lives Matter Plaza street sign in Washington, D.C. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN 10. Protesters gather in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN 11. A group of national guardsmen laugh together on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN 12. A building on fire near Lake Street and Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis during protests. PHOTO BY BEN LEONARD THE COLLEGIAN 13. A young woman spray-paints under the Highway 55 bridge in Minneapolis. PHOTO BY BEN LEONARD THE COLLEGIAN
8| Thursday, June 11, 2020
Change >> from page 1
Jamir Constance marches for his father, his brother and cousins and for something bigger than the recent deaths. “I look like the people who are getting killed every day for walking down the street, jogging or going to the store,” Constance said. “We’re fighting for the whole community, a whole race of people, someone that I call my people. It’s important to be here today — it shows true solidarity in a time of crisis. If you look at history, only good has come from protesting, riots and however you feel about the subject that’s necessary for things to change.”
“I think George Floyd’s needless death is inexcusable, being at the hands of those who are there to serve and protect. I think it provides a chance for us all to stop and pause and to examine, individually, each of us, the deep-rooted aspects of racism in this country and take this time to look at that more fundamentally.” WADE TROXELL FORT COLLINS MAYOR
Walk of solidarity co-organizer Melissa Lozano Davis explained that the walk represents the movement toward “change and justice.” The walk took place on May 31 at City Park to show support for Floyd’s family. “Our walking towards change and justice doesn’t end here,” Lozano Davis said. “For a lot of people this is a beginning step, or even a middle step, in the pathway towards justice, but we don’t want people to stop.” Jamar Clark, Philando Castile,
Thursday, June 11, 2020
David McAtee, Sean Reed, Breonna Taylor and more have all died at the hands of police. In a recent statement, the Colorado State University Office of the Vice President for Diversity explained that “each individual’s life and experience is distinct, but every person is connected by overarching themes of anti-Blackness, police brutality and intersections of gender within a society that devalues the lives and humanity of Black people.” “I think George Floyd’s needless death is inexcusable, being at the hands of those who are there to serve and protect,” Troxell said. “I think it provides a chance for us all to stop and pause and to examine, individually, each of us, the deep-rooted aspects of racism in this country and take this time to look at that more fundamentally.” Public Information Officer Kristina Shaw of Mental Health Partners, a non-profit organization that provides immediate access to mental health and substance use care, said that the physical, mental and emotional well-being of minority communities, specifically Black communities, are at risk when systemic injustices related to racism happen. “Everybody processes trauma or their experiences in different ways,” Shaw said. “So we can’t say that the protests are 100% helping everybody, but to have mental well-being, you want to be able to speak to your personal experiences and your lived experiences.” The Black community, while given rights, have not been given a voice, Jensen said. “We’ve seen it in civil rights and we’ve seen it every day since then,” Jensen said. “The Black community is just not listened to. They’ve peacefully protested, they’ve taken every attempt they can (and) they don’t have representatives that represent their community in Congress.” Troxell said City Council has made race, inclusion and equity a priority through efforts like the social sustainability strategic plan while he has been mayor. “From a point of view from a level of humanity, we all have to come together and work together
to rectify these explicit and implicit kinds of biases,” Troxell said. “It really starts at the top where we examine ourselves and our systems.” Institutionalized and individual racism has been addressed by CSU’s Race, Bias and Equity Initiative, which is working to place an emphasis on systemic efforts that impact permanent change on campus. “When we say CSU is a place where all are welcomed, valued and affirmed, that comes with a responsibility to be allies, advocates and accomplices,” read the Office of the Vice President for Diversity’s statement. “To see these events and face them. To name them. To choose to not turn away or ignore the painful parts of our reality.” President Joyce McConnell also released a statement stating she is “heartbroken” and that the community stands united in anguish and anger. “As president of Colorado State, I affirm that it is not enough to commit to being a University and a community where hate and bias and racism are not tolerated,” read the statement. “We are committed to being anti-hate, anti-bias and anti-racist.” Even as the protests die down, it is the hope that the fight for change remains at the forefront of everyone’s minds, Jensen said. Protesting is not enough, and people need to be reaching out to state representatives, senators and mayors, she said. “Stand up for what’s right and expect it,” Constance said. “We’ve been taught from a young age (to) treat people how you want to be treated, and that should be driven across all race, gender, sex preference, anything. Black lives matter. Keep protesting. Keep fighting.” Laura Studley can be reached at news@collegian.com.
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Protesters march through The Oval away from the Administration Building at Colorado State University June 2. PHOTO BY DEVIN CORNELIUS THE COLLEGIAN
Elizabeth McCune (left) and Emily Arnett (right) light a candle at a vigil outside of Fort Collins Police Services May 29. PHOTO BY MATT TACKETT THE COLLEGIAN
Queen Johnson speaks to protesters about her experiences with the police in Fort Collins at a protest in Old Town Square on June 5. PHOTO BY DEVIN CORNELIUS THE COLLEGIAN
A Fort Collins police officer kneels next to a crowd of protesters laying face down in Old Town Square June 2. The march to the square followed a week of protests after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in Minneapolis Police custody. PHOTO BY MATT TACKETT THE COLLEGIAN
A protester holds up a Black Power Fist with a Love Life bracelet on during a protest by City Hall on June 2. PHOTO BY DEVIN CORNELIUS THE COLLEGIAN
10| Thursday, June 11, 2020
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Fort Collins community joins in daily national protests By Serena Bettis, Meagan Stackpool, Samantha Ye & Noah Pasley @CSUCollegian
In the 17 days since the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer May 25, protesters across the United States refused to stay silent. It is no different in Fort Collins, where hundreds of community members gathered each night outside the Fort Collins Police Services station on Timberline Road to demand justice for Floyd and for all the other Black lives lost to police brutality. Smaller groups of protesters have also appeared on different street corners around Fort Collins and Loveland, at both major intersections and neighborhood roads. Alongside the nightly demonstrations, protesters organized major marches and speaking events at Colorado State University, Old Town Square and the Poudre School District administration building. This is not stopping, as there is a Zoom discussion on Black Lives Matter June 11 organized by the Social Justice Book Club, a police brutality protest June 12, a march for change June 13 in Old Town Square and a protest around Loveland Lake June 20. Below, The Collegian has put together a compilation of coverage so far on these local protests and will continue to report on them via social media and collegian.com. Nightly vigils outside the Fort Collins police station by Meagan Stackpool Members of the community gathered in front of the FCPS station to hold a candlelight vigil for George Floyd on May 29. Supporters arrived wearing face masks and carried signs and candles. The vigil was originally scheduled for Thursday but was postponed to Friday to not interfere with the rallies in Denver. Still, about 100 people showed up in solidarity on Thursday outside the precinct, as reported by the Coloradoan. Jazzlyn Ross, a preschool teacher and student at Front Range Community College, helped to organize the vigil in Floyd’s memory. She expressed her hope for a peaceful gathering to further their message and explained the purpose behind the vigil. “Our goal is not to necessarily protest,” Ross said. “I’ve been avoiding that word, but we mainly want to pay tribute to the lives that have been lost and acknowledge that families are suffering. It’s mostly about starting the conversation to end the problem rather than to react with violence.” Ross worked with Jared Hollingsworth Deleon, another community member, w h o
helped organize a vigil in Denver with the rally the night before. He expressed his frustration at the events in Minneapolis and the need for action within Fort Collins. “I believe that people should address the Fort Collins police and make them start the reform process now before anything does happen,” Hollingsworth Deleon said. “We’re all here. This is all our country, and if something happens in a city in this country, then it happens to all of us.” City Park walk of solidarity by Serena Bettis Hundreds gathered May 31 at the Fort Collins City Park for a walk of solidarity with Floyd’s family. “The walk felt right for us,” said Melissa Lozano Davis, who co-organized the walk with friend Missy Splittgerber. “When we were talking earlier this week, we were feeling really frozen. You know, the body’s response, we go fight, flight, freeze, and we could feel ourselves going into freeze, so walking was really important to move our bodies.” Lozano Davis and Splittgerber planned to walk at least one lap around Sheldon Lake, but said that participants were welcome to walk as little or much as they desired. However, a downpour started at around 4:30 p.m. just as the crowd finished the first lap, and many people dispersed. “We want this to be an honoring of the lives that have been lost, first and foremost,” Splittgerber said in a video posted to the Facebook event page. “We stand in honor of them, we stand in solidarity with their families. That’s the beauty of joining together, not just
with our families, but with our community family, and saying ‘We stand with you, and we grieve with you, and now we walk to change so that this doesn’t happen to more families.’” Request to City Council for permanent George Floyd memorial by Samantha Ye Fort Collins residents and City Council discussed overarching issues of police brutality, accountability and systemic racism locally against the backdrop of
nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd at the City Council meeting June 2. “We as youth want to tell the Fort Collins police force that we are angry, we are here and we will fight for justice; we are not going away,” resident Hana Beachy-Quick said. “We are seeking to find a long term solution to this problem. And while we know that there haven’t been major incidents in Fort Collins, we would like to see some preventative actions s o
nothing like this will ever happen in our community.” Over the weekend, memorials left for Floyd outside the FCPS building were removed, to the confusion of attendees. Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said he made the decision to remove items left by residents because of the poor weather and since the police were not equipped to preserve the memorial themselves. They did take photos of the memorial items, however. Objects like memorial posters and burned candles have been donated to the Museum of Discovery to be preserved and archived as a piece of national and Fort Collins history “for future generations years down the road to look back at ‘what did our community do during this time,’” Swoboda said. March from The CSU Oval to Old Town by Meagan Stackpool Another round of protests sparked in Fort Collins on Tuesday, June 2, after an Instagram post went viral inviting people to join in a Unity March. The independently organized protest began on The Oval in front of the Administration Building where there was a short speech, followed by a march to City Hall along Howes Street. Jamir Constance, a recent hospitality management graduate of CSU, expressed why he felt it was important for a community like Fort Collins to take part in protests. “It’s one of the nicest communities I’ve ever been in,” Constance said. “One of the whitest though and to see all these white people come out
and support me and people who look like me, it’s pretty incredible. Just to see the people that have come in to realize the fight and the struggle and the pain that we go through, although they’ve never experienced it and they never will, speaks volumes.” Organizer and CSU graduate Adam Sahakyan also expressed the need to do more beyond just protesting. He explained that, while protests are important for garnering the public’s attention, people also have to sign petitions, vote and donate. Sahakyan also requested that Colorado State University take action, stating that CSUPD and President Joyce McConnell must make a statement. “CSU is not innocent of racism and hate,” Sahakyan wrote in a text message to the The Collegian. “We need to see what they’re going to do to back their statements up.” Protests, speeches at Old Town Square by Noah Pasley Protesters met in Old Town Square June 5 to advocate for reform in the Fort Collins Police Services and the Poudre School District. Queen Johnson, a Larimer County resident, spoke on her sons’ experiences being arrested in high school due to racial discrimination from school resource officers in Fort Collins. “To have my children taken away from me just because they are Black hurts,” Johnson said. “If y’all think what’s going on around the country cannot happen right here in your own backyards, you’re dead wrong.” One of Johnson’s sons, Dontre Woods, spoke against the Poudre School District Board renewing their contract with the Fort Collins Police Services. He said that police in schools do not increase safety and that they increase fear and mistrust among students of color. “Approximately 25% of students in Poudre School District are students of color (and) nearly 50% of the students referred to law enforcement or disciplined in Poudre School District are students of color,” Woods said. “Police in schools lead to racially profiling students ... (and) the criminalization of students.” Serena Bettis, Meagan Stackpool, Samantha Ye and Noah Pasley can be reached at news@ collegian.com.
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Thursday, June 11, 2020
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Collegian photo coverage of police brutality protests
A sign is displayed on the remnants of a store that was burned down at Lake Street and Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis during the protests in response to the murder of George Floyd, May 28. PHOTO BY BEN LEONARD THE COLLEGIAN
Demonstrators sitting in the front yard of Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman’s home in south Minneapolis May 28. PHOTO BY BEN LEONARD THE COLLEGIAN
Denver School Board At-Large Director Tay Anderson speaks about a resolution to remove police officers from Denver public schools June 4. PHOTO BY SKYLER PRADHAN THE COLLEGIAN
A protester holds a sign that reads, “If you’re tired of hearing about racism, imagine how tired we are of experiencing it” in Denver June 4. PHOTO BY SKYLER PRADHAN THE COLLEGIAN
An aid station hands out milk for tear gas among other supplies at the Target parking lot at Lake Street and Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis May 28. PHOTO BY BEN LEONARD THE COLLEGIAN
A Walgreens in Uptown Minneapolis actively being looted during the protests related to the death of George Floyd May 29. PHOTO BY BEN LEONARD THE COLLEGIAN
Protesters on a truck pass out water and food to keep people fed and hydrated during the march June 4. PHOTO BY SKYLER PRADHAN THE COLLEGIAN
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Thursday, June 11, 2020
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‘Small hinges swing big doors:’ Supporting Black-owned businesses By Paige Moorhead @MoorheadPaige
Intersectional activism: Remembering the roots of Pride By Lauryn Bolz @laurynbolz
Since May 25, people of all colors have banded together around the Black community. The protests against police brutality and systemic injustice have grown to encompass all 50 states and several other countries across the globe. June is also LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Though many events around the country are canceled or are finding alternative, virtual ways to celebrate, George Floyd’s killing and the subsequent protests have caused many to take a step back and consider how selective activism can contribute to conventions that uphold systemic oppression. The conclusion that many are coming to is that equality for one group is not true equality; movements coming from a more privileged point in society must reflect on their history and work for the rights of all people. The Roots of LGBTQ+ Rights “A lot of movements toward racial justice, LGBTQ+ justice, homelessness, against police brutality are all inherently linked,” said Maggie Hendrickson, the assistant director at Colorado State University’s Pride Resource Center. The current Black Lives Matter and Pride movements that we see today are intrinsically tied together throughout history, though they used to look different. According to Hendrickson, Pride as we know it began with the Stonewall rebellion in 1969. Throughout American history, laws against cross-dressing and sodomy were used to rationalize violence and brutality against LGBTQ+ people. This caused communities to gather in underground spaces and clubs. Stonewall was one of these places. “Trans folx couldn’t be their authentic selves,” Hendrickson said. “But in clubs they were able to do that because there’s a little bit more anonymity.” The police were known to routinely raid gay bars and clubs, but one night at Stonewall, the regu-
lost in AIDS and HIV epidemic as staff.” lars had enough. In addition to supporting “The police raided the bar well,” they said. “That happened and a bunch of drag queens, trans in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, so a lot of marginalized people, the statement also stressed its commitwomen, people who were fre- that history is lost.” The early messages of Pride ment to dismantling systems of quenting there were getting arrested, and a Black lesbian named are sometimes lost on the people oppression within the WGAC’s own organization. Stormé (DeLarverie) yelled at celebrating it today. “White practitioners have “I think Pride Month now is the rest of the group, ‘Are y’all not gonna do anything?’” Hendrick- usually like you go out to clubs, co-opted and colonized these people get drunk, they have movements, often leveraging reson said. Thus ensued a series of riots glitter on their face, and then it’s lationships with police systems and police brutality that lasted 6 always sponsored by these really over the needs and safety of surbig corporate organizations,” vivors,” the statement said. “The days. “Basically, (Stonewall) was Hendrickson said. “What it impact of white supremacy on some folks who were tired of be- really is ... (is) a celebration. It’s Black survivors is immeasurable, ing hassled by the cops,” said Mike an annual celebration of fighting as policies and resources have Mansfield, a history instructor back against things like police been created to disproportionateat CSU who taught a class on the brutality, anti-Black racism and ly benefit white, straight, cisgender women.” history of protest movements homelessness.” Additionally, the around the United Pride Resource Center States in 2019. “They had is working to increase simply had enough and “No pride for some of us without their intersectionality in fought back.” order to proportionately DeLarverie, as well liberation for all of us.” support their students of as trans people of color MICAH BAZANT color. Marsha P. Johnson and GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND ACTIVIST “The Pride Center Sylvia Rivera are accredhas been focusing on a ited with providing the quote this year that says, first sparks of the Pride ‘No pride for some of us without Intersectional Activism Today Movement. While both the Black Lives liberation for all of us,’” Hendrick“Their work goes beyond just throwing punches at Stonewall,” Matter and Pride movements son said. “We try to keep talking Hendrickson said. “They did a lot have had major accomplishments about those and creating space for of community-based work, too. in the past decade, it is important that. … In the spring we did some That night is pointed at as the to recognize systemic privileg- cultural competency training for kick-starter of the modern day es that continue to marginalize our staff and redid our communipeople of color. In order to raise ty guidelines for the center just to LGBTQ+ activists movement.” Though the Stonewall rebel- up these voices, many resource kind of make sure we’re proactivelion began an international move- centers across campus have made ly making a space where everyone ment based around gay pride, commitments to engage in Kim- feels comfortable, regardless of self-love and LGBTQ rights, the berlé Williams Crenshaw’s inter- their other identities.” How to celebrate Pride this year names of DeLarverie, Johnson sectional activism. Pride, for a number of reasons, “The focus of intersectional and Rivera are not commonly activism is to keep folx with mul- will look different this year. But taught in history class. According to Mansfield, a lot tiple marginalized experiences at there are many ways to interact of queer people of color are left the center because it’ll have a rip- with the community, connect out of history “simply because ple effect to making things better with resources and work toward intersectional change in our socifor everybody,” Hendrickson said. they don’t fit the narrative.” In a statement after Floyd’s ety. With the help of Hendrickson, “It wasn’t too long ago that (being gay) was literally a crime killing, CSU’s Women and Gen- we’ve put together this list of ways in many places,” Mansfield said. der Advocacy Center reaffirmed you can stay involved this June: Even under (Bill) Clinton’s poli- their mission statement, which Remembering your roots A good way to connect with cy of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ people includes “supporting systemic were still being forced out of the change to end all forms of oppres- Pride without attending an event is to do some research on how military and government service sion.” “The work of all anti-violence the movement came about and because of their sexuality.” According to Hendrickson, organizations is inextricably the early activists that opened the these stories are often forgotten linked to decades of Black leader- doors for acceptance and legality because of their connections to ship,” the statement said. “WGAC of gay rights now. “We’re posting an activist of other systemic problems in the simply would not exist without the labor and activism of Black the day on Instagram, so folx can United States. “A lot of folx who were in- folx, including the current labor learn about their “Trans-cestors,” volved (in Stonewall) were also and activism of Black WGAC Hendrickson said.
Now is a good time to take a step back and reflect on the Stonewall riots, and the major impact that they have had on how we view Pride and police brutality today. “For us to detach pride or LGBTQ+ activism from things like police brutality from racism would be first like an injustice to the folx who have been doing this work for so long,” Hendrickson said. “It’s also just an incomplete picture.” Being active in protests and petitioning The killing of George Floyd was a major tipping point for people all over the country, and even the world, to protest and stand by people of color in their neighborhoods and communities. In addition to the focus on stopping police brutality, there is a major health disparity for LGBTQ+ people of color. People with these overlapping marginalized identities are likely to face higher rates of violence and are less likely to have health care. The Cut listed resources for helping people in these communities. If you are able, protesting, donating and petitioning are ways to voice criticism and have the possibility of making real change in our society. Taking care of your mental health “Some of the data that we have about our students at CSU shows that they experience higher rates of depression and anxiety than non-LGBTQ+ people,” Hendrickson said. “One in four of our LGBTQ+ students at CSU has seriously considered suicide in the last year, which is 25%. That’s a lot. That’s a really high statistic that is really scary.” In order to support students during this difficult time, the Pride Resource Center offers help to gay and transgender students. “We have a few counseling center liaisons that we can specifically refer students to if they’re LGBTQ or have other types of intersecting identities,” Hendrickson said. “We want to normalize seeking help for mental health and seeking out community and taking care of ourselves.” Lauryn Bolz can be reached at editor@collegian.com.
Editor’s Note: Paige Moorhead is also the Social Media Editor for The Collegian. As we take to the streets to protest and post to social media to denounce racism and police brutality, we must also remember as consumers, where we spend our money matters. One of the ways to join the movement for equity is supporting local Black-owned businesses in our community.
“I feel like, because I can interact with so many different people on a business level, … I can send more compassionate humans out into the world.” DEZEL SHALLENBERG OWNER, BLACK LOTUS HEALING ARTS
Dezel Shallenberg is a local reiki teacher, massage therapist and also teaches self-defense classes. She is the owner of Black Lotus Healing Arts. “Loving an individual Black person, it gives you a chance to have more empathy,” Shallenberg said. “If you don’t have Black friends in your circle, doing business with Black people is another way to expand your circle and learn about us.” Shallenberg said one of the most valuable parts about supporting Black-owned businesses is simply the human side of it. “All of my work is interacting with humans,” Shallenberg said. “I feel like, because I can interact with so many different people on a business level, … I can send more compassionate humans out into the world.”
Gina Michelle is a local licensed massage therapist and owner of Malama Massage & Bodywork. Michelle said it is important for community support but it must be for the right reasons, and you must discover the reasoning behind your desire to support. “Is it because what Blackowned businesses have to offer you believe is essential and valuable to your community?” Michelle said. “Is it because you’ve had a deeper awakening that people behind Blackowned businesses go through societal pressures, microaggressions and inequities yet still persist to put themselves out there as business owners? … Is it because you’ve become curious about what someone who has a different life-experience has to offer in the community? Is it because you see our humanity and have compassion for recognizing that we too have similar goals for living and working and prospering where we live?” Michelle said she believes shopping at Black-owned businesses shows allyship because when we treat all business owners with genuine support, we lift the entirety of our community out of inequity. “When we support the community, the community supports us,” Michelle said. “Every business owner wants to have a sense of pride and belonging to the towns they’ve rooted their business in. Patronage builds that with a sense of belonging and warmth and this gets passed back and forth like an energy loop that has the potential to never end. It has the potential to become stronger and bigger within its community.” Joe Buckner is the owner of Beautifully Savage, a local boxing and physical fitness center. He said the conversation of wanting to help Black businesses is occurring as more
people see violence through cameras and social media screens. Buckner said it’s necessary to promote businesses that are in alignment with who you are as an individual. “Less for me right now is ‘let me intentionally find Black businesses to support,’” Buckner said. “I’m paying attention to who’s being silent (and) who’s not taking a stand and making the conscious decision to never support them again.” Buckner said the African American population in Fort Collins is not even 1% which leaves few Black businesses to care about. Buckner said that’s not a knock against Black businesses that exist, but exposes the difficulty in Fort Collins to find a Black real estate agent, a Black mortgage broker or a Black banker. “The conversation I want to start leading is how do we get to that point — where there are more Black business owners because we are one of the races that have zero economic basis in this country,” Buckner said.
“Small hinges swing big doors. We have to make small incremental changes where we’re at. We have to move through this world with empathy.” JOE BUCKNER OWNER, BEAUTIFULLY SAVAGE
Buckner said that one thing we can all do right now is to be the best person we can be within our space without worrying too much about being like Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X. He said we have to get outside of thinking that everything we do has to be massive. “Small hinges swing big
doors,” Buckner said. “We have to make small incremental changes where we’re at. We have to move through this world with empathy.” There are actions the community can take to create a more inclusive, diverse environment. Shallenberg said she feels like people show up during times of crisis, but they don’t show up every day. “What that looks like is saying to your friends when something racial comes up, ‘That’s racist. I don’t want to hear that,’” Shallenberg said. “It goes a long way. You may reach some people who will then hold other people accountable. It will no longer be a racist echo chamber.” Michelle said another gesture our community can take is urge local police to take down the blue lives matter flag decals on vehicles. She said, though the meaning has evolved to support families and communities of officers killed in the line of duty, it is a direct countermovement to Black Lives Matter. “I’m not sure many people know that,” Michelle said. “In my opinion, it is another example of offensive appropriation. Police lives historically predominate Black lives. We all know blue lives matter. Of course, their lives matter as they risk themselves every day during duty. But I think we can communicate the support of safety for our police officers in a different way.” Michelle said when she witnesses that flag on a vehicle, it feels like a threat and makes her wonder whether her life would matter if she was in need or if she got stopped. “My son continually asks me, ‘What happens when I become a man?’” Michelle said. “How many times does a white community member contemplate the fate of their lives
in a day? My skin is not like a uniform that I can take off and walk about in the world unharassed. Now is the time to create … change.” Michelle said the deepest and most long-term action we can all take to combat racial inequality is to look within ourselves and ask what has come up for us. She said if you feel at a loss of words, keep feeling your feelings. Michelle said that no matter what stage of awakening you might be in, to keep going and heal these feelings and strive to uncover
“Experiences will repeat until we wake up, learn and change. I sincerely hope you will answer the call to dedicate yourself to a more peaceful and equitable community.” GINA MICHELLE OWNER, MALAMA MASSAGE & BODYWORK
compassion. “This is our chance for growth and maturity as a collective consciousness,” Michelle said. “If you believe in fate or a higher source consciousness, then perhaps you also believe that this experience is no accident, and we are meant to consciously evolve through these present moments and heal all the way back to familial and ancestral histories. We are meant to grow out of human disparities through our lifetimes. Experiences will repeat until we wake up, learn and change. I sincerely hope you will answer the call to dedicate yourself to a more peaceful and equitable community.” Paige Moorhead can be reached at entertainment@ collegian.com.
NOPE
DOPE
Arguing with ignorant people.
Standing against injustice.
Not following words with actions.
Feeling united for a cause.
Protest sunburns.
Remembering to take care of yourself.
Knowing there’s a long way to go.
Making a difference.
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Thursday, June 11, 2020
Collegian photo coverage of police brutality protests
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While a protester speaks through a megaphone to the crowd, the group standing directly in front of a line of police officers cheers May 31. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
A protester kneels along with the crowd for eight minutes to honor George Floyd June 7. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
Health care workers in McPherson Square in Washington for White Coats for Black Lives June 6. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
Shortly before the 8 p.m. curfew began, a protester yells at the line of police officers May 31.
A protester holds a sign in remembrance of Breonna Taylor, a 26-yearold black woman killed by Louisville, Kentucky, police officers in midMarch, May 31. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
While listening to a speaker, two protesters hug each other in front of the White House June 7. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
Artist paints a mural honoring victims of police brutality on plywood covering shops in Washington, D.C.’s China Town June 7. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
A protester leads a chant while the crowd follows him to the front of the White House June 7. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
After running out of the larger group of protesters who were pepper sprayed, a man is helped by unofficial first aid responders who flushed his eyes with a baking soda solution May 31. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
A woman speaks to a crowd of protesters gathered in front of the White House while crying and talking about the effect police brutality had on her life, June 7. She spoke of how her brother was killed by a police officer, frequently pointed to the sky in his honor and led chants for the other protesters. PHOTO BY LUCY MORANTZ THE COLLEGIAN
