Colorado Springs marches for Nolan Wells

Colorado Springs, CO – On November 7, the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) marched from city hall to the county courthouse in response to a national call to action for Nolan Wells, a Black man found dead in Mississippi. They were joined by a coalition of organizations including the African Student Association, About Face, Colorado Springs Black Connection (CSBC), and Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

The crowd marched through downtown with signs demanding equal protection and justice for Nolan Wells, chanting “Nolan Wells didn’t drown” and “We won’t stay silent, we won’t save face, open up a federal case!”

Wells went missing on July 4 after he went with three white men to celebrate the holiday on Horn Island, off the coast of Mississippi. The men came back without him, claiming he stayed behind. On July 21, Wells was found on Horn Island, dead and face down with bruises on the back of his head. Despite an autopsy finding no water in his lungs, a grand jury found Wells’ death to be consistent with drowning and refused to indict the men he had gone with. The family of Nolan Wells is now demanding answers.

CSBC member Micah Johnson echoed the family’s demands for transparency and accountability, asking “How many more families must stand before cameras, begging for answers? How many more Black lives must become headlines before they become priorities?”

COSAARPR member Cameron Hollins stated, “This is a coverup.” Hollins said accountability was overdue, stating, “We as people should not stand and allow a government to be unaccountable to these parents.”

FRSO member Brandon Rincon told the crowd, “From the police to Nolan Wells’ so called friends, we say that when you lynch someone you deserve to be put behind bars, and we stand with the broad section of people demanding the opening of a federal investigation”

Rincon continued, “The United States was built on chattel slavery. Until we rid ourselves of the chains of imperialism, cases like Nolan Wells will continue with no real justice to be found.”

Hollins called on the community to demand justice for Nolan Wells, saying “His family’s loss must become the community’s cause.” Hollins noted that what happened to Wells fits a pattern of people looking away and institutions moving slowly that “can happen anywhere, including Colorado Springs.”

Hollins challenged local residents to get involved, to attend city council meetings, and to “demand strong, independent civilian oversight of the Colorado Springs Police Department—with real authority to review investigations, compel transparency, and hold the process accountable.”

As the group marched back from the courthouse, people joined off the street and took up signs. The march arrived at city hall with more people than when it had left, all demanding justice for Nolan Wells. The action closed as people chanted “Black Lives Matter” and “This racist system can go to hell! Justice for Nolan Wells!”

#ColoradoSpringsCO #CO #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #NAARPR #COSAARPR #NolanWells