Protesters chant in solidarity with other protesters demanding justice for Elijah McClain on July 25, 2020. The protest, which had originated at the Aurora Municipal Center, shut down I-225. Photos by Esteban Fernandez | [email protected]
For the majority of the night, it was a standard event. Speakers shared their stories of police brutality and remarks about McClain, who was killed by Aurora Police in August 2019. An estimated 1,000 people then set out on a march, blocking Interstate 225, prompting the chaos that has been widely reported on.
A blue Jeep attempted to plow through the crowd blocking the highway but was thwarted by a white pickup truck. The driver of the truck “sacrificed” his car to protest the protesters in the road from being run over. While the Jeep sped down the road, someone in the crowd shot two protesters–eyewitnesses say those shots were aimed at the driver of the car. One woman was injured after she jumped or fell off a wall on the highway.
The crowd again gathered at the municipal center after the chaos on the interstate. Organizers of the protest urged the crowd to disperse after it was apparent the event began to take a different, unintended turn. However, dozens of people stayed, smashing windows, ripping protected wood panels off buildings, setting off fireworks and attempting to start fires inside the Aurora courthouse building.
The driver of the blue Jeep was identified but not arrested. Aurora police have stated that the investigations of this incident and the shooting are ongoing.
While encountering protesters on Interstate 225 while heading home, driver Cindy Vu recorded marchers as they passed by her car.
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