Anti-Trump Protests Set to Disrupt Denver This Saturday: Local Leaders’ Rhetoric Risks Violent Clash
Denver, Colorado, stands on the edge of a powder keg. As protests against President Trump’s immigration crackdown sweep the nation, from the streets of Los Angeles to the corners of New York, the Mile High City is bracing for its wave of unrest. The warning signs are undeniable: coordinated rallies, radical rhetoric from local leaders, and a police force hamstrung by years of budget cuts and anti-law enforcement policies. What began as dissent risks spiraling into violence, and Denver’s far-left officials seem more interested in fanning the flames than restoring order.
The chaos in Los Angeles offers a grim preview of what could unfold here. Protests in LA escalated into riots, with cars set ablaze, property vandalized, and nearly 200 arrests made in a single night. The deployment of 700 U.S. Marines and 2,000 National Guard members underscored the severity of the situation—a response to what President Trump called an “invasion” of lawlessness. Denver has already seen its own warning shots: 17 arrests on Wednesday night, where police resorted to smoke and pepper balls to disperse a volatile crowd. These are not peaceful demonstrations. These are calculated acts of defiance fueled by a toxic mix of anti-Trump hysteria and a refusal to respect federal law.
At the heart of this brewing storm are Colorado’s radical Democrats, who seem determined to escalate tensions rather than defuse them. State Senator Julie Gonzales (Denver), a known far-left provocateur, has been vocal in her opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, decrying the federal government’s efforts to enforce immigration laws. Her rhetoric, echoed by colleagues like State Representative Lorena Garcia—a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist—paints law enforcement as the enemy and illegal immigrants as victims. Garcia’s inflammatory language, including calling federal actions the work of “criminal cowards,” risks inciting the very violence she claims to oppose. These are not isolated voices.
Progress Now, a well-funded activist group tied to the Democratic establishment, is actively promoting “No Kings Denver” protests, rallying their base with apocalyptic warnings about Trump’s agenda.
Worse still, Colorado’s Attorney General Phil Weiser is lending his official weight to these divisive efforts. Weiser, a frequent attendee at events hosted by Indivisible—a radical activist group bankrolled by George Soros’s Open Society Foundations—has positioned himself as a champion of “resisting” the Trump administration. His appearance at an Indivisible town hall in Colorado Springs, where he vowed to fight “illegal actions” by the federal government, sends a dangerous message: state officials are not only tolerating but encouraging defiance of federal authority.
This is not leadership; it’s provocation.
Denver’s vulnerability is compounded by its policy failures. Years of progressive reforms have gutted the Denver Police Department, with budget cuts and anti-police sentiment leaving officers overstretched and demoralized. The city’s leadership, including Mayor Mike Johnston, has prioritized appeasing activists over ensuring public safety. Johnston’s ties to Indivisible’s financial backers, like LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, raise questions about whose interests he’s serving. Meanwhile, groups like the Denver Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and Antifa International are openly organizing protests, using the same tactics and signage seen in LA’s riots. These are not grassroots movements but well-funded, nationally coordinated efforts to destabilize cities like Denver.
The stakes could not be higher. With ICE preparing to deploy tactical units to Democratic strongholds like Denver, the potential for clashes between protesters and law enforcement grows by the day. Local leaders’ refusal to cooperate with federal authorities—coupled with their inflammatory rhetoric—invites chaos. The images of burning cars and masked agitators in LA are a warning Denver cannot ignore. Property destruction, assaults on police, and disruptions to daily life threaten the safety of law-abiding residents who simply want to go to work and raise their families in peace.
President Trump’s response reflects a commitment to restoring order that Denver’s leaders lack. His mobilization of federal resources to protect ICE agents and enforce immigration law is a direct rebuke to sanctuary city policies that shield criminals and undermine national security. As he stated at Fort Bragg, “We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy.” Yet, local Democrats, from Governor Jared Polis to Mayor Johnston, continue to obstruct these efforts, prioritizing political posturing over the rule of law.
Denver stands at a crossroads. Strong leadership is needed to prevent the city from descending into the anarchy seen elsewhere. Mayor Johnston must reverse course, fully fund and empower the police, and publicly denounce the radical groups stoking unrest. Governor Polis must stop pandering to the far left and work with federal authorities to ensure public safety. Anything less is a betrayal of the Coloradans who elected them.
The alternative is grim. If Denver’s leaders continue to coddle protesters and vilify law enforcement, the city risks becoming the next flashpoint for violence in a national crisis. Saturday’s “No Kings Day” protests, backed by Indivisible and their deep-pocketed donors, could mark the tipping point. Law-abiding citizens deserve better than to live in fear of riots and retribution. It’s time for Denver to reject the politics of division and demand order, security, and respect for the law—before it’s too late.
