Well that was a weird day

Abortion protesters rallied while Avs fans watched the team lose.
5 min. read
Katlyn Howery, with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, yells into a bullhorn as protesters march against the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

Thousands took to the streets downtown Friday night, marching against the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Groups like the Denver Communists, the Denver Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), the League of Women Voters and others began gatherings around 5:30 p.m. at the state Capitol.

Eliza Lucero with the Party shouted into the crowd that shut down Lincoln Street outside the Capitol, calling on people to fight against the Supreme Court's decision.

"We have to build, we have to organize and we have to be united in these streets," Lucero said.

People shouted "My body, my choice" and carried signs that read things like "Abort the Supreme Court."

The crowd traveled through 16th Street Mall chanting, made a stop near 20th and Stout streets for speeches, then moved back to the Capitol.

At least 25,000 people were expected downtown Friday as the Colorado Avalanche took on the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Stanley Cup. The series will continue Sunday, in Tampa, after the Avs lost 3-2.

The last time crowds gathered at the Capitol for protests, police unleashed tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets. In the two years since the protests following George Floyd's murder, the City of Denver has paid out millions of dollars in settlements over lawsuits filed against the police department alleging excessive force. Police chief Paul Pazen said the department learned lessons after the 2020 protests.

"I'm very confident in our team, our local state and federal partners," he said Thursday, according to Westword. "We worked very hard to make sure that we do things in the safest manner possible. Additional training has taken place as well."

Here's what happened the last time the Avs won the Stanley Cup.

Protesters rally against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Mae D. wears facepaint to a rally against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Avalanche fans go nuts after a goal during a Stanley Cup game five watch party on the Auraria Campus. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Avalanche fans go nuts after a goal during a Stanley Cup game five watch party on the Auraria Campus. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Skyler Thomson (right) loses it (in a bad way) watching the Avalanche in fame five of the Stanley Cup final at a watch party on the Auraria Campus. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Avalanche fans go nuts after a goal during a Stanley Cup game five watch party on the Auraria Campus. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Colorado Avalanche gather around LoDo sports bars to watch Game 5 in downtown Denver, Friday, June 24.
Tony Gorman/CPR News
Colorado Avalanche gather around LoDo sports bars to watch Game 5 in downtown Denver, Friday, June 24.
Tony Gorman/CPR News
Protesters march against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Protesters march against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Protesters march against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Protesters rally against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Colorado Avalanche gather around LoDo sports bars to watch Game 5 in downtown Denver, Friday, June 24.
Tony Gorman/CPR News
Colorado Avalanche fans head toward McGregor Square to watch Game 5 in downtown Denver, Friday, June 24.
Tony Gorman/CPR News
Colorado Avalanche fans watch Game 5 at McGregor Square in downtown Denver, Friday, June 24.
Tony Gorman/CPR News
Protesters march against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Ashira Campbell weilds a bullhorn as protesters march against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Organizers with the Party for Socialism and Liberation lead protesters in a march against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Eliza Lucero, with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, leads protesters in a rally against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Iris Boswell of Denver joined protestors at the Colorado Capitol Friday morning following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. She no longer sees the court as legitimate and hopes leaders don't abide by the opinion.
Sam Brasch/CPR News
Julia Jackson and Elise Hoover, friends from Denver, Colorado, arrived with signs at the Colorado Capitol minutes after learning about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade on Friday, June 24, 2022. Jackson said the Court is determined to "regulate us and push us into silence."
Sam Brasch/CPR News
A double rainbow over downtown. June 24, 2022.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

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