Arrest Statement, April 26

The Auraria Campus is the site of a demonstration that began on Thursday, April 25, and drew approximately 100 participants, including students and other community members. Our campus institutions recognize and respect the right to peacefully demonstrate, and our priority is the safety of our students, employees, and visitors.

Auraria Campus policies prohibit camping due to health, safety, and security concerns. While those who gathered at the onset of Thursday’s protest did so peacefully, some participants established an encampment as the demonstration progressed, which violates those policies. Campus administrators spoke with numerous protestors and advised them of our policy, including providing written copies. Dr. Angie Paccione, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, also visited campus and met with student protestors, who were asked multiple times to remove the encampment.

When protestors did not comply after numerous written and verbal requests, law enforcement stepped in at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Friday to remove the encampments. Currently, there have been approximately 40 arrests by Auraria Higher Education Center Police and the Denver Police Department. Detainees are facing trespassing charges per the campus camping policy.

We will continue to monitor this ongoing situation and remain vigilant. Our top priority remains the safety of all students, staff, faculty, and community members.

Our role is to educate and encourage learning through thoughtful and respectful dialogue. In that spirit, we will continue to support civic engagement and peaceable assembly, while working to ensure a safe and healthy campus environment for all of our students, employees, and visitors.