COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - On Sunday, dozens gathered downtown Colorado Springs to demand justice for Elijah McClain.
McClain was just 23-years-old when he was killed after an encounter with Aurora police in 2019. Someone called 911 back in August, reporting McClain was walking around with a mask on and moving his arms around.
Officers eventually pinned him to the ground in a choke hold position before he was given a sedative. Elijah stopped breathing on the way to the hospital. He died days later.
Even though months have passed since his death, a prominent national spotlight remains on this story. Thousands gathered Saturday outside the Aurora Police Department Headquarters and beyond.
Protesters on Sunday in Colorado Springs say they will continue to protest until something changes within departments across the U.S.
"We want to get funds that are going towards the police to be allocated to other things," organizer Jasmine Dunn explained. "We want things like education, after-school programs, a lot of money goes into the police department and we know that money can be better for the people. "
Demarick Webb, an organizer of today's event, says he wants people to remember "this is a movement, not a moment."
He adds that he is a father and wants better for his kids.
"I don't want to let this issue just die down. This is a movement, not a moment we are here because our kids have to live the same situation," Webb said. "Just because it has died down and publicity and stuff, our kids will still have to go out and be discriminated against and I don't want my kids to have to go through that."
"All lives can't matter until Black lives matter. We are not seeing the other lives don't matter, but we are saying that we are going to have issues right now and we need people to be in solidarity with us and understand that." Dunn added.
The police involved in this were cleared of any wrong doing, but just last week, Governor Jared Polis launched an independent investigation into what happened to McClain.
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June 29, 2020 at 07:26AM
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Protesters gather downtown Colorado Springs demanding justice for Elijah McClain - KKTV 11 News
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