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  • Ashira Campbell, 17, of Denver speaks ...

    RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

    Ashira Campbell, 17, of Denver speaks with Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen about wanting change as Pazen marches with protesters in Denver on June 1, 2020. Monday marked the fifth night of rallies held to protest the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died May 25 in Minneapolis Police custody. Law enforcement officers have made 284 arrests on charges ranging from violation of the city’s emergency curfew order to arson in connection to the protests held in Denver’s city core for four consecutive nights.

  • Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen marches ...

    RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

    Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen marches with protesters in Denver on June 1, 2020. This was the fifth night of rallies held in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.

  • Chandler Givens marches with the crowd ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    Chandler Givens marches with the crowd from the 16th street mall to the Capitol in Denver on Monday, June 1, 2020, during a protest after the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25.

  • JayShawn Dowman wears an "I can't ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    JayShawn Dowman wears an "I can't breathe" mask as he listens to speakers during a protest Monday, June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25.

  • People stop to hear Denver Police ...

    RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

    People stop to hear Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen speak to the crowd he was marching with during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.

  • Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen marches ...

    RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

    Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen marches with protesters in Denver on June 1, 2020. This was the fifth night of rallies held in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.

  • A woman who wished to remain ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    A woman who wished to remain anonymous wears a Black Lives Matter earring as she listens to speakers during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd.

  • Devin Urioste, an educator at Youth ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    Devin Urioste, an educator at Youth on Record, stops his car on Lincoln as thousands of marchers take the streets during a protest Monday, June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25.

  • A protester hands out flowers after ...

    RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

    A protester hands out flowers after members of the Denver Police Department joined people rallying in protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25. Denver joined protests being held in cities across the nation.

  • Protesters sit down to hear Denver ...

    RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

    Protesters sit down to hear Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen speak to the crowd he was marching with during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, over the murder of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by Minneapolis Police on May 25.

  • AssŽtou Xango, Aurora poet laureate, delivers ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    Assétou Xango, Aurora Poet Laureate, delivers her words to the crowd during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd.

  • Shayana Dabney, a senior majoring in ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    Shayana Dabney, a senior majoring in political science and history at CSU-Pueblo and president of the Black Student Union, speaks to the crowd during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd.

  • Bianca Mikahn, activist and musician, raises ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    Bianca Mikahn, activist and musician, raises her fist in honor of black lives during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.

  • Torrence Brown, Northern Colorado graduate and ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    Torrence Brown, Northern Colorado graduate and University of Cincinnati PhD candidate, walks along a memorial for fallen black people who were murdered in the United States as he speaks to the crowd during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.

  • People raise their fists amidst the ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    People raise their fists amidst the crowd of thousands to honor black lives during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.

  • Protesters put flowers on a Civil ...

    RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

    Protesters put flowers on a Civil War Monument outside the Capitol in Denver on June 1, 2020. Monday marked the fifth night of protests held in Denver after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.

  • Protesters on top of their cars ...

    RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

    Protesters make their way down Colfax Avenue during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25.

  • A women lies in the street ...

    RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

    A women lies in the street overcome with emotion during a protest over the death of George Floyd on June 1, 2020 in Denver.

  • Security guards, hired by the Denver ...

    RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

    Security guards hired by the Denver Coalition for the Homeless, left, get stuck in traffic as protesters made their way across Colfax Avenue during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, after the death of George Floyd, a black man killed in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25. The guards said they were hired to watch over the homeless during the protest.

  • Protesters yell for a medic after ...

    RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

    Protesters yell for a medic after a man was knocked out during a fight that broke out in the middle of Colfax Avenue during a protest in Denver on June 1, 2020, organized in response to the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis Police custody on May 25. One of protester sanding by said the injured man was trying to stop someone from burning the American flag.

  • Protest continue over the death of ...

    RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post

    Demonstrations continue over the death of George Floyd on June 1, 2020 in Denver.

  • A hand is joyously raised in ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    A hand is joyously raised in the air after a large crowd marched to Five Points and back to the Capitol in Denver during a demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. Monday drew large crowds to downtown Denver during the day and into the evening. Many young members of the black community spoke on topics ranging from the victims of police violence to the empowerment of black people nationwide.

  • A 15-year-old boy lies on the ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    A 15-year-old boy lies on the ground with his hands behind his back alongside his father during a peaceful demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. The father and son asked to remain anonymous, but agreed to the use of their photo in hopes of drawing attention to their non-violent and non-agitative methods of communicating their message.

  • A 15-year-old boy hugs his father ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    A 15-year-old boy hugs his father after lying on their stomachs with their hands behind their backs during a peaceful demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. The father and son asked to remain anonymous, but agreed to the use of their photo in hopes of drawing attention to their non-violent and non-agitative methods of communicating their message. The father expressed pride in his son, who asked him to go downtown to take part in the day's events.

  • From left to right Kenny White, ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    From left to right Kenny White, Kingsley Lawson, Tae Godfrey and Neil Yarbrough raise their fists as they honor George Floyd with seven minutes of silence after marching down Broadway during a demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. The event was highlighted by tones of positivity and peaceful demonstration throughout the day.

  • Protesters sit on Broadway after making ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    Protesters sit on Broadway after making a march through Five Points in Denver during a demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. Monday drew large crowds to downtown Denver during the day and into the evening. Many young members of the black community spoke on topics ranging from the victims of police violence to the empowerment of black people nationwide. The event was highlighted by tones of positivity and peaceful demonstration throughout the day. Participants in the march danced and demonstrated joyously.

  • The crowd breaks out into joyous ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    The crowd breaks out into joyous song as Meek Mill bangs from a boombox after marching from the Capitol in downtown Denver to the historic Five Points neighborhood and back during a demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. Monday drew large crowds to downtown Denver during the day and into the evening. Many young members of the black community spoke on topics ranging from the victims of police violence to the empowerment of black people nationwide. The event was highlighted by tones of positivity and peaceful demonstration throughout the day.

  • Demonstrators honor George Floyd with seven ...

    Participants honor George Floyd with seven minutes of silence as they marched down Broadway during a demonstration in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020. Monday drew large crowds to downtown Denver during the day and into the evening. The event was highlighted by tones of positivity and peaceful demonstration throughout the day. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

  • A small group of demonstrators ignite ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    A small group of demonstrators ignite fireworks in the direction of police officers after a much larger group of thousands of people had gathered together earlier in the day in Denver with a positive and celebratory tone in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020.

  • Police toss canisters of gas towards ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    Police toss canisters of gas towards demonstrators who remained out long after curfew and peaceful crowds had mostly dispersed in Denver late on Monday, June 1, 2020. The remaining protesters differed from the day's largely positive and celebratory tone in honor of black lives.

  • Police officers round up the remaining ...

    AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

    Police officers round up the remaining few protesters after a much larger group of thousands of people had gathered together earlier in the day in Denver with a positive and celebratory tone in honor of black lives on Monday, June 1, 2020.

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RJ Sangosti of The Denver Post.DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 8:  AAron Ontiveroz - Staff portraits at the Denver Post studio.  (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

Denver police Chief Paul Pazen linked arms with Ashira Campbell, 17, Monday evening and walked past the City-County Building as demonstrators began the fifth day of protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis.

Chiefs and police officers in other cities have mingled with protesters but this is Pazen’s first time meeting face-to-face with demonstrators. The images of the chief in his regular uniform and only wearing a cloth mask to protect him from the novel coronavirus provided a contrast to images of Denver police officers in riot gearing firing tear gas at people during previous protests.

As on the previous days, Monday’s demonstrations began peacefully. With people walking and chanting through the heart of downtown.

Protests over George Floyd’s death began Thursday night in Denver and have brought days of unrest as people chant and march over the deaths of black people at the hands of law enforcement.

Read the full story here.