Counter-protestors Outnumber “Western Chauvinist” Rally in Down-town Boulder

Boulder police and sheriff’s officers surrounded the downtown county courthouse Saturday after about 25 alt-right protestors staged a free speech demonstration only to be met by 300 counter-protestors on the other side of the barricades. KGNU’s Roz Brown was there and talked to some of the counter-protestors.

A small group of mostly men, who say they identify with a Western Chauvinist group called Proud Boys was on the Pearl Street Mall Saturday. They obtained a permit to protest, and staged their event inside a police-erected pen to keep them safe – which meant for two hours they shouted at hundreds of counter-protestors who shouted back from the other side of the barricade. The proud boys waved American flags and took to their bullhorns to promote the policies of President Donald Trump. The press was not allowed into the secure area to talk to Proud Boys representatives. But counter-protestors explained why they were there.

At the end of the official protest, the proud boys were escorted out of the make-shift pen and police officers – some in riot gear – were seen running down Spruce Street trying to keep the different factions from interacting with each other. One of the counter-protestors was arrested and several others were detained but overall the protest was mostly peaceful.