An attempted march in support of the truck driver sentenced to 110 years in prison experienced a very low turnout in Denver on Monday.
The demonstration, dubbed ‘“Crime” Does Not Fit The Time March: Support Rogel Aguilera-Mederos’ started as an event on Facebook with 44 supporters responding that they would be ‘going’ and 242 responding that they were ‘interested.’
However, despite this online support, only about eight people actually showed up to the State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, reported CBS 4 Denver.
“Let’s join together and RISE UP in support for Rogel! Let Governor Polis Know the TIME doesn’t fit the ‘Crime,’” read the Facebook event. “If we do not stand up for him, who will?”
“Our goal is to bring local and national awareness so that we CAN find someone who will support Rogel in creating change in this sentencing.”
Those that did show up at 10 a.m. at 200 East Colfax Avenue in Denver wielded signs reading “Crime does not equal time,” and “no intent.”
While Aguilera-Mederos did not receive a ton of in-person support at the protest, the petition for the Colorado Governor to revisit his sentence has garnered more than 4.5 million signatures as of Tuesday morning. Because of this support, Aguilera-Mederos’ mother says she has hope.
“I have a lot of hope because I have a lot of support,” she said in a phone call.
David Lane, a civil rights attorney, says that, even with the immense support of the petition, review of Aguilera-Mederos’ sentencing cannot happen until he has served at least 120 days, and the Colorado Governor stepping in would only happen after that review.
In the face of these protests and demand for a lower sentence, the prosecution team who succeeded in getting Aguilera-Mederos sentenced has apparently been celebrating their victory by exchanging trophies made out of brake parts, and congratulating each other on their win.
“Unbelievable. Not even El Chapo and his men got so many years like that. He;s not a criminal, it was just an accident,” said Joel Diaz, spokesperson for the Aguilera-Mederos family.