Hundreds of people took to the streets of downtown on Saturday during two separate demonstrations calling for an end to police brutality and the abolishment of the police following the deaths of Daunte Wright in Minnesota and Adam Toledo in Chicago.

Similar demonstrations were scheduled across the country in places including Boston, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City.

The first demonstration began at the steps of the Capitol at noon on Saturday. Protesters held signs reading “Daunte Wright Say His Name” “Black Lives Matter Here” and “I Can’t Believe I Still Have To Protest This.”

The peaceful demonstrators took to the streets and paraded down the 16th Street Mall, yelling and chanting they want change.

Two rallies are happening currently in downtown calling to defund the police. Couple hundreds of people are on the footsteps of the Capitol Building. Others are in front of #Denver City Hall.#DenverGazette pic.twitter.com/yqgBt76tcR

— David Mullen (@mullen_david) April 17, 2021

“This can’t keep happening. We need change now,” yelled a demonstrator who was echoed by hundreds

As demonstrators moved around the city throughout Saturday, officials from the Denver Police Department blocked off streets with patrol units to avoid any potential conflicts between vehicles and people.

A spokesman for the police department declined to say how many officers were assigned to monitor the protests, but said they were there out an abundance of caution, but would allow peaceful demonstrators to invoke their First Amendment rights. 

After the Black Lives Matter protest concluded at Denver’s City and County Building, many of the protesters walked east to the Capitol Building to join in a demonstration by the Party of Socialism and Liberation.

At the marches’ peak at least 500 people were congregated on the steps and along Lincoln Street. 

White cardboard tombstones with names of people killed by officers from across the United States were placed in the ground in the melting snow. Joel Northam a leader of Denver’s PSL chapter told the crowd it’s time for change to avoid another life being taken away by law enforcement. 

“The concept of police reform is dead since it became a fascist, racist military death squad that it is today,” Northam yelled. 

“We’re marching today for change. We’re marching today for a revolution. Let our voices be heard.”

Protestors are marching in the streets down Colfax Avenue. pic.twitter.com/7YywYEByYV

— David Mullen (@mullen_david) April 17, 2021

After he spoke, the people who were on the steps and near the Capitol Building stepped onto Lincoln Street and the began marching along Colfax Avenue. 

Demonstrators chanted the names of various the names of high-profile individuals who were killed during an interaction with police officers like George Floyd, Brionna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Toledo and Wright.

“No justice, no peace,” could be heard from blocks away. People at every corner had their phones out to record the demonstration.

As the large group of demonstrators made their way back to the Capitol Building they made various stops along at the Lindsay-Flanigan courthouse at the corner of Fox Street and West Colfax Avenue, the downtown Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center and DPD’s headquarters. 

Protestors have stopped in front of the of Denver PD headquarters and are chanting “get off our streets.” pic.twitter.com/xiUmeTpRZp

— David Mullen (@mullen_david) April 17, 2021