Aurora, CO—March 01, 2025— In Aurora, several families and community members gathered outside the Municipal Center to express their outrage toward police violence. The rally was called for on an unusually hot Saturday, and it drew supporters of Kory Dillard, who was gunned down by the Aurora Police Department (APD) on October 3, 2024.
We Will Not Stand Down to Police Brutality
Dillard, a veteran and a civilian, was involved in a shooting that appears to be highly controversial. In the past five months, his partner, Anna Harris, has been actively seeking justice and transparency in this case. Today, during the rally, she spoke to the people present and confronted the hearing concerning the ADP’s account of the incident.
And they noted how she even “called out” APD Chief Todd Chamberlain, suggesting they assigned a narrative to him of Dillard being a “rock-wielding carjacker,” which statement, according to Anna, is already proven false by the video. “They are trying to alter reality,” Harris said. “They want to eclipse the truth and bury Kory’s murder beneath the shadows.”
Harris further put forth a more poignant argument regarding police violence: “What are these wrongful deaths of the Black males other than police being the judge, the jury, and the executioner, all the same, when in Colorado, the death penalty is long abolished?”
We Are All Fighting This Together to Achieve Justice
Harris alone did not carry the burden of her sorrow. In the audience was the family of Kilyn Lewis, another Black man who was shot and slain by an officer from Aurora police while unarmed.
Alongside Harris was Kiawa Lewis, Kilyn’s brother, who was holding his daughter. In his speech, he reminded the audience that the violence inflicted by the police is not unique but rather common in Aurora. “It’s been a tiring road, but they want to wear us down. We stand together; we fight together,” he said.
Community Organizers Call For Changes
Support also came from the Denver-Aurora Community Action Committee (DACAC). This is a group that advocates for police responsibility. The DACAC Chair was Ryan Stitzel, who spoke in the meeting and had complaints against the Arapahoe County District Attorney Amy Padden, who is supposed to be attending the case.
“Usually, these police have done whatever they wish without suffering consequences, and this is no exception,” said Stitzel. “There are no consequences for any of the following: killing Kilyn Lewis, the 14-year-old Jor’Dell Richardson, or even the child they pinned in the alley and shot behind the dumpster.”
Stitzler made it clear that this community is ready to take action: “At this very moment, the District Attorney has to decide whether she is prepared to hold these cops that kill people accountable. And we are here to inform her that they must be!”
Chants for Change
Bay Area events proceeded with the general shout of “Black Lives Matter!” and “When killer cops are on patrol, how do we stop them? Community control!” The anger in the crowd showed feelings of rage and what a lot of citizens perceive as excess police violence in Aurora.
Nels Pine from DACAC gave his speech at the rally, pointing out the role of the media in police killings. “They did exactly that with Kory Dillard and Jor’Dell Richardson, where they pinned the most derogatory lies and framed them with countless crimes, but those people are not alive to justify themselves.”
Pine noted one more thing: the broader story of the violation of constitutional rights. “They were shot dead in the street by police officers who usurped their Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial of their fellow citizens,” he stated. “These crimes by the APD must end.”
A Call for Community Control
The strongest remark from the rally was the community will not waver. DACAC members made repeated reminders to District Attorney Amy Padden and Tree that justice must be done. They have pledged to keep resisting what they perceive as structural police brutality and demanded the regulation of police services by the community.
As family members and supporters vacated the site, their point was still loud and clear: the struggle for justice is only beginning.
