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Auraria Campus placed on lockdown Monday as protesters occupy Student Commons building

By Luige Del Puerto May 13, 2024 | updated 1 year ago

The police placed the Auraria Campus on lockdown on Monday afternoon when more than a dozen protesters marched from their encampment on the Tivoli Quad to the CU Denver Student Commons building, according to campus officials. 

The campus was locked down just before 5 p.m., authorities said, citing “police activity at Student Commons Building.”

“Please avoid the area. More information will follow,” an emergency alert from the campus’ X account said.

Protesters entered the building, specifically the bursar’s office on the fifth floor, and accessed and occupied restricted space, officials later said in a news release. 

After several warnings to the protestors, the campus was placed on lockdown, “to allow for the safe evacuation of staff in the area and to assess the situation,” campus officials said.

The warning prompted some protestors to leave and continue their protest outside.

Auraria officials said a group of ten protesters remained, and they were issued a summons for charges that included trespassing, interference and disturbing the peace. The protestors were immediately released after being charged, officials said. The lockdown remained in place until 5:48 p.m.

“We continue to balance the legal right to free speech with the need to keep our community safe and the campus focused on teaching and learning,” a statement on the Auraria Campus website said. “This is the latest example of how Auraria Campus protester behavior has escalated in unacceptable ways.”

In a press conference last Thursday, Auraria Campus officials described the situation regarding the pro-Palestinian encampment as “lawlessness.”  

Devra Ashby, director of marketing and communications for the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC), outlined “significant” health and safety impacts of the encampment, including complaints of feces on the quad, trash and the influx of people on campus who are not students.

Earlier this month, Auraria Campus officials offered protesters a a $15,000 donation to the International Committee of the Red Cross in exchange for dismantling the encampment. 

Protests rejected the offer. They also protested the University of Colorado Denver and Metro State University of Denver’s spring commencement ceremonies.

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