DENVER, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Three protesters have been found guilty in Denver of obstructing a Columbus Day parade in October.
The protesters, the first of more than 80 charged parties to face trial, were each convicted on at least one count of blocking a street, interfering with a lawful assembly and resisting arrest, the Rocky Mountain News reported Wednesday.
University of Colorado political science professor Glenn Morris was sentenced to pay a $200 fine, plus $41 in fees and the $323.53 spent by the city to clean up the fake blood. A Methodist minister, the Rev. Julie Todd, was sentenced to pay $100, with $50 suspended, and Koreena Montoya was ordered to pay $200.
The three were among more than 80 protesters who delayed the parade for more than an hour when they sat down in the parade's path and poured theatrical blood onto the street. They claimed celebrating a day commemorating Christopher Columbus is offensive to American Indians, who consider him to be a major contributor to the near-extinction of their ancestors.
Defense attorney David Lane said his clients might appeal the convictions.
