Party on the Hill becomes a riot; Boulder police order people to disperse or face arrest
On Saturday, March 6, a large party on 10th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. turned into a riot. The next morning, CU students and neighbors respond with a Hill cleanup.
The party began in the early afternoon on Saturday, March 6 on 10th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. In the hours following, it steadily grew with hundreds of University of Colorado Boulder students, intensifying into riots on the Hill.
The party was in violation of social distancing mandates, including the absence of masks. Videos surfaced on social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, of people rushing police cars, jumping onto a firetruck and Amazon delivery car, setting off fireworks and defacing cars parked on the street, even flipping and totaling at least one car.
The crowd partied for four to five hours before the Boulder Police Department (BPD) responded to the situation. According to Daily Camera reporter Mitchell Byars, who was at the scene, BPD was “aware of what’s going on and … [had] been developing a strategy in response.”
At 8:02 p.m., CU sent out an alert notifying students of BPD’s response to a large party, which could include arrests and CU sanctions for participants. By 8:30 p.m., a Boulder police SWAT vehicle arrived on the scene, ordering people to disperse or face arrest, announcing over the loudspeaker that there would be the use of tear gas or use of force for those who did not comply.
Amidst the acts of violence, many remaining students continued to encourage the mob mentality. The crowd persisted to be destructive and violent. According to BPD, three SWAT officers were struck with bricks and rocks, leaving them with minor injuries.
Around 9 p.m., the crowd dispersed and CU advised people to avoid the Hill area until further notice at 9:15 p.m. CU released a statement on Twitter condemning the incident, stating: “the conduct on University Hill on Saturday. Any student found responsible for acts of violence toward law enforcement or first responders will be removed from CU Boulder and not readmitted.”
In response to the damage and litter from the riot, the CU Environment Center promoted a cleanup on the Hill through social media outreach. With piles of litter and shattered glass from car windows and alcohol bottles scattered on the sidewalks and streets, residents of the Hill and CU students mobilized to clean the debris. While there was no set time, volunteers were encouraged to arrive in the morning and afternoon, if needed.
Members of Phi Kappa Tau were involved in the cleanup, including Brett Walker, a senior studying mechanical engineering, and Patrick Gatan, a junior studying English. “We are trying to aid in any way that we can,” said Katan.
SarahDawn Haynes, the outreach and engagement coordinator at the Environment Center at CU, also attended the cleanup, said: “In my nature, and the students in the Environmental Center’s nature, it is to show up and help clean up. We had our councilmember [Rachel] Friend come, numerous student leaders and neighborhood students show up. That is the Boulder that we love to see.”
Haynes’ initial reaction was disappointment, explaining, “There is no reason for this level of destruction and violence; and we are seeing a difference in attitude in what we let some people get away with. The questions of accountability and reparations are really important in our world today on bigger matters of pollution and inequality and we need to start right here, right now.”
Chancellor DiStefano released a statement on Sunday, March 7 announcing the University’s “embarrassment” of students who chose to disregard community safety standards and public health orders and protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, and who engaged in acts of violence toward law enforcement.
DiStefano stated that,
“Any student who is found responsible for engagement in acts of violence or other egregious acts connected to the events––including damage to property and not dispersing when ordered by police––will face serious sanctions up to expulsion from CU Boulder without the possibility of readmission, and may also face criminal and civil sanctions from the city and the county.”
Students’ frustration with peers is apparent on social media, with many turning to these online platforms for conversation and debate. Twitter has been one of the primary platforms for such, with strong opinions voiced on journalist’s platforms, such as Byars’ and sports editor Vinny Lupo’s Twitter accounts.
“We have to change the culture,” said Haynes. “We have some pretty big questions to wrestle with as a community about how students live in the community and relationships with neighbors and each other.”
No suspensions or expulsions have been made yet; investigations are ongoing. CU asks community members with any information to submit leads to BPD – CO evidence submission portal.
