Students removed from state Capitol legislative session during protest
Three students were removed from the state Capitol legislative session on Wednesday. According to the Colorado State Patrol, the students were forcibly removed when the "session was suspended due to disruptive behavior."
CSP released body-worn camera video of the students' removal on Thursday. State troopers said that one student was asked to leave when she began shouting at lawmakers from the House Gallery during the legislative session.
CSP then tried to escort that student out of the gallery. When state troopers asked two young men to move, one didn't and he was physically removed.
Eventually, all of the students were escorted out of the state Capitol and the legislative session resumed. No students were arrested and no students face charges in relation to the incident.
State lawmakers have called for an investigation into the disruption.
"Students are demanding we act to prevent gun violence, but they shouldn't have to come to the Capitol to protest for their lives. That is the reality they confront as young people in Colorado continue to face gun violence in their schools and in their communities. I am concerned with the response to the protest in the House Gallery. From what we have seen, it was clearly disproportionate to the students' actions. We are calling for an investigation into the response and will take the necessary steps to prevent this from happening again, including review of the responsibilities, protocols and training for our sergeants at arms," said Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Democrat representing Dillon.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, when there is a disruption during a session, all of those observers seated in the gallery are asked to vacate the state Capitol.
"Our children are scared of being shot in their classrooms. They are sick and tired of gun violence plaguing their communities. They came to the Capitol today, as they have been for weeks, to ask what we're doing about it. So I'm very disappointed by how they were treated, specifically that a young Latino student was dragged out of the chamber with a level of force that felt unnecessary and disproportionate compared to the treatment of his peers. I have a lot of questions about how and why this happened– and I intend to address those concerns with state patrol as we work to repair the harm perpetuated to this student and his peers," said House Majority Leader Monica Duran, a Democrat representing Wheat Ridge.
Wednesday's protest happened in connection with a nationwide student walkout in which students demanded more action to gun violence in schools.