Election 2016: Denver District Attorney Candidates Face Communities Still in Mourning

The race for the Denver District Attorney’s office is one of the most watched races by those affected by police violence, mass incarceration, and civil rights violations. The four candidates, Kenneth Boyd, Michael Carrigan, Beth McCann and Helen Morgan were hosted by the Denver Branch of the NAACP, Colorado Latino Leadership Advocacy & Research Organization (CCLARO), the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance (GMDMA), and the Urban League of Voters on Saturday at the Shorter Community A.M.E. Church in Denver.

On Saturday the Denver Ministerial Alliance held a forum in addition to the others that have taken place in the metro area (here) and (here). The topic of police brutality continues to be at the forefront of issues. The candidates held their positions despite being confronted by the public multiple times.

We apologize for the quality of the sound. You’ll need to listen carefully. The first question asked begins:

The mission of the District Attorney’s Office is to professionally and completely prosecute crimes and investigate potential crimes on behalf of the people of the state of Colorado, and in doing so, do justice advocate for victim survivors and advise and consult in the deterrence and prevention of a crime to ensure the open evenhanded and humane administration of justice.

The first response comes from Helen Morgan, who discusses the impact of felonies on the youth population, Beth McCann talked about how the DA’s office has moved away from the concept of “doing justice,” Michael Carrigan discussed the current negative public perception of the Denver Law Enforcement, and Kenneth Boyd also discussed the lost trust of the community,