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Protesters march down Greenwood Village street after council passes resolution in response to police reform law

The protest started at 4 p.m. outside the Greenwood Village City Hall.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — A group of demonstrators marched down Quebec Street in Greenwood Village Thursday afternoon to protest the city council’s resolution to defend any officer who is sued under Colorado’s new police reform law.

A video by 9NEWS Reporter Ryan Haarer showed dozens of protesters marching down the suburban street chanting "no justice, no peace." 

Tay Anderson, a community activist and member of the Denver Public Schools board, first tweeted about the protest Thursday morning, writing "we must hold our leaders accountable." 

He also tweeted that he spoke to Greenwood Village officials ahead of the protest and that they told him "we don't want to be like Aurora."

Aurora police made headlines for their response to a peaceful protest outside city hall where officers wore riot gear and used tear gas. 

Greenwood Village city hall closed ahead of the protests and police vehicles were apparently moved away from the area. 

RELATED: Aurora mayor calls special city council meeting to address PD response to McClain protest

Anderson had a prominent voice in last month’s protests at the Colorado State Capitol following the in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. These demonstrations led Colorado’s state legislature to pass the police reform bill.

RELATED: Greenwood Village City Council votes to defend officers in suits brought under Colorado police reform law

RELATED: 'There is no history without Black history': Denver school pushes for more inclusive curriculum

RELATED: Weeks after protests began, here are the changes we've already seen and what change activists want to see next

According to the resolution discussed by the Greenwood Village city council on Monday, court costs, attorney fees and fines would be paid by the city for lawsuits brought under Colorado's Senate Bill 217, which was signed into law last month. The measure included new policies on data collection and banned carotid holds.

"It goes well beyond supporting our officers," councilmember Dave Bullock said of the resolution. "It sends a message to ... the country that we have a very different attitude towards law enforcement and the rule of law in Greenwood Village."

Bullock also told 9NEWS that he has seen protests in cities where he feels police departments are not supported and "that will not happen" in Greenwood Village.

The city issued a statement about the resolution on Thursday.

> The full statement can be viewed here

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