The police officers and protesters involved in racialist demonstrations in 2020 at the state of state, paint completely different pictures of how it looked on the ground.
Why it’s important: It is up to the jurors to decide whose version they should believe – and the point of view they adopt will support the rest of the trial.
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Driver news: On Monday, former Denver police officer Keith Valentine and current lieutenant Michael O’Donnell took over the stand.
What protesters say: The actions of police officers “blew my mind” and reflected a “use of force that I never dreamed I would experience,” said Sara Fitouri, a union organizer and resident of Denver who is one of 12 wounded protesters who sues the city.
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She remembered a nearby protester trapped in an alley, tear gas and screaming, “We must die – they will kill us!”
What the police say: “I saw nothing that worried me or worried me, or that I felt was outside” Denver Police Department’s policies on the use of force, “said Valentine, who now works for a body camera manufacturer for police.
The big picture: This split screen view defines the first of its kind trial, which is now entering its second week.
What to see: The coming days will include more testimonies from plaintiffs, police chiefs and third-party experts. The trial is expected to last three weeks.
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