Denver town hall over election concerns

DENVER -- President-elect Donald Trump’s election is leaving many people in Colorado feeling passionate and uncertain.

Joanne Gipple voted for Hillary Clinton, and even though her candidate lost she says this is just the beginning of her political involvement.

“When I’ve seen what’s happened since the national election it really makes me want to get involved more,” said Gipple.

Uncertainty over the incoming Trump administration’s potential policies attracted Gipple and a standing-room only crowd to a civil liberties town hall in Denver Tuesday.

“I know that a lot of folks are afraid or worried about some of the promises this administration has made, and I think some of the hate and fear people feel,” said 8^th District State Representative-elect Leslie Herod.  

Community groups including the police, LGBTQ activist, immigration groups, and the ACLU spoke to the crowd in an attempt to clear up some of that uncertainty.  

One of the biggest concerns at the meeting was over President-elect Trump’s vow to crack down on illegal immigration. 

Denver Police addressed the issue head on.

“We are not going to do a federal agencies duty in immigration enforcement. That’s their job. The only place we would have enforcement action is if we encounter someone who has a warrant,” said Denver PD’s Deputy Chief of Operations David Quinones.

Denver District Attorney-elect Beth McCann hopes people walked away from this meeting feeling they were able to express themselves without fear of discrimination.

“We have seen that there have been what appear to be racially motivated and religion motivated activity. So I think people are just anxious and concerned,” said McCann.