Colorado teachers, law enforcement officers, community advocates and local families gathered on the West Steps of State Capitol today in opposition to Amendment 81, a pro-ICE ballot measure that would override current state and local laws that limit cooperation with the federal agency.
Speakers included Denver District Attorney John Walsh, Aurora Public Schools Teacher Kayli Brooks, 8th Judicial District District Attorney Gordon Mclaughlin, and ACLU of Colorado Executive Director Olivia Mendoza.
If passed Amendment 81 would permanently amend the Colorado Constitution and could override current state laws limiting ICE authority in Colorado. Under Amendment 81, state and local law enforcement are required to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when they charge Coloradans with certain crimes and before a court has decided if that person is guilty.
The speakers encouraged a ‘No’ vote on the amendment so that no Coloradan is reported to ICE before a court has found them guilty of a crime and before they have a chance to prove their citizenship.
Amendment 81, which was filed by the conservative group Advance Colorado will be on the statewide ballot this November. Last December, the Colorado Times Recorder reported that its paid petitioners were misleading voters to collect signatures, asking people if they “would like to help stop ICE from attacking … nonviolent criminals?”
The group also used out-of-context quotes from prominent Democratic state officials, including Governor Jared Polis and Attorney General Phil Weisier, to falsely imply that they supported the ballot measure.
Photos by Colorado Times Recorder photographer Beth Schneider. Find more of her work at bethschneider.com.
