The Colorado State Open Thread is for anyone with any interest in our great state of Colorado. We don’t restrict this only to people who have joined the Colorado COmmunity DailyKos group, we don’t have a challenge/response for access to our secret clubhouse and we most certainly do not have a secret handshake. We don’t need to — we know Colorado is a great state and anyone who is anyone reading here can either share our opinion or not — we know the truth of things.
With the glory unfortunately come some warts — after all, if Colorado were only just the most awesome collection of land, people and other inhabitants, views, scenery, plants and everything else that goes into this state, people might come to expect only perfection and not realize all the effort it takes to keep Colorado such a treasure that it is.
One of those warts — pustules, maybe even the kind of grotesque, sickening thing that relegates Doctor Pimple Popper (something my nurse wife got me interested in) to California where
it seems more of those exist — activated (popped? burst onto the scene? injected itself onto our collective consciousness?) back on November 19th of last year in the city of Colorado Springs when Anderson Aldrich went with guns to the “Q” nightclub and opened fire at the nightclub where LGBTQ+ folk (and heterosexuals — not going to be exclusionary, since they certainly were not) had enjoyed a drag show. Fortunately, a military veteran attendee saw what was happening in front of his family and he took action to take down the shooter, disarm him and, with the help of a performer, proceeded to beat the bigot to the point where he couldn’t pose a threat anymore. Police arrived in under ten minutes, the gunman was arrested and now, per OutThereColorado.com Mr. Aldrich is facing 317 charges for murder, attempted murder, attempted assault and bias-motivated crime against each victim. I have to admit, as I watched these videos, I thought of the shooter and what maybe should happen to him.
"You're going to be here on Feb. 22," (Judge) McHenry said to (Defense Attorney) Archambault. "You aren't entitled to review every page of discovery for a preliminary hearing ... and I know you're fully aware of that."
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District Attorney Michael Allen said that his office, as well as all victims his office has spoken with, do not want to see a continuance on Aldrich's preliminary hearing. Additionally, Allen said that the "fight on this case won't be at preliminary hearing," where Allen said he intends to show extensive surveillance footage of Aldrich committing the shooting.
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Aldrich appeared in Colorado's 4th Judicial District Court on Wednesday as well, where Judge Robin Chittum dismissed a request from the defense to hold former El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder in contempt for allegedly leaking sealed documents to the media.
Aldrich will have their preliminary hearing for the Club Q shooting on Feb. 22. Aldrich is in the El Paso County jail with no possibility of posting bond.
In happier news, there was a fundraiser held yesterday put on at Phantom Canyon Brewing Company. It was sold out (over 300 attended) and 100% of proceeds went to the survivors of the shooting.
More than half a dozen breweries, performers and more came together Sunday to show solidarity with the survivors of the Club Q shooting.
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Along with Phantom Canyon, other participating breweries included Peaks N Pines, Metric Brewing, Wynkoop, Mash Mechanix, Pikes Peak Brewing Company and OCC Brewing. Attendees enjoyed shows by drag performers Delusional, Hysteria Brooks, Maniqueen, Porcha Demarco-Douglas and Potted Plant, and burlesque dancers Vyper Jade and Selene Obscene. Local band Ozonic and DJ Spring Sounds provided music.
The event raised more than $55,000 -- and in just four hours!
The Fierros (Rich is the veteran who took down the shooter) own the Atrevida Beer Company (Jess is the brewmaster (head brewer? brewmistress?) in Colorado Springs and they quickly sold out their inventory of beer to customers and fans of theirs after the attack at the Q nightclub, so many other local breweries have been making sure Atrevida continues to have beer to serve to customers. From the Denver Post—
When news about the Fierros involvement in the Club Q shooting got out, drinkers showed up “literally in droves,” Jess said, draining several months worth of beer in just a few days, while letters of gratitude flooded the brewery’s mailbox. Friends both inside and outside of the beer world offered donated or discounted kegs and additional staff so the bar could remain open. Those who couldn’t attend in person bought merchandise from the brewery’s virtual shop — orders that may take weeks or months to fill because it doesn’t keep much backstock.
Personally, I really like their T-shirt saying “Good Intentions Don’t Change Anything. Actions Do.”
Over the next month, I’ll be taking a holiday from writing these Open Threads. I have had babushka volunteer to write the Open Threads and I’ve sent her some thoughts on how I do it, but I’ve also tried to emphasize that it’s hers to write so there may be some good changes coming. I should be back on February 20th with some pictures to help you see where I’ve been. Until then, the floor is yours...