As instances of police brutality surface across the nation, Denver activists are trying to bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement by sharing their stories and concerns.
Residents filed into Coffee at the Point in Five Points on Sunday evening with the goal of bringing police and Denver citizens together for a discussion on reform and personal experiences with brutality.
The event sprouted from a disagreement between an activist group that typically met at Coffee at the Point, the Colorado Foreclosures Resistance Coalition, and coffee shop owner, Ryan Cobbins, who disliked a flier the group sent out about a meeting at his shop that he said slandered Denver police. He then spoke out in support of the Denver Police Department.
That caused the group to threaten to boycott his shop, but Cobbins offered to open the space up after hours to allow for a discussion between police and the community. “I don’t appreciate people that generalize other people because I get generalized as a black man,” Cobbins said. “We support activists, but we don’t support hate groups.”
Denver police did not show up for Sunday’s event, but organizer Darren O’Connor said one officer expressed interest in rallying more officers and holding a larger community discussion at a later date. “I want to see the at-risk community be able to call the police and have a relationship where they can be helped instead of criminalized,” O’Connor said. “I want to see more training for our police officers, more accountability.”
Members of the public who have been personally affected by police brutality came to share their stories.
Alex Landau, who said he was beaten by police over “an alleged illegal left turn that was proven to be false,” passionately shared his story and said the next incident of police brutality in Denver “could create total chaos.”
“I’m here to contribute to a progressive conversation and come to an understanding that we are all at risk,” Landau said.
Event organizer Steve Bailey, with the Colorado Foreclosures Resistance Coalition, said he wanted to make clear his position on police. “I believe nearly all officers are good people and join the force with the intent to do good,” Bailey said.
He hoped to change the mentality of officers by having them listen to stories of police brutality survivors to see how it directly affects the community.
O’Connor expressed the need to get all Denver voices involved.
“Steve and I are a couple of white guys,” Bailey said. “We would like to hear what the needs and wants of the African-American and Hispanic communities are regarding this issue.”
