Man cited for posting anti-migrant signs in March near Colorado Capitol

DENVER ( KDVR ) — The Denver Police Department has cited a 56-year-old man for posting anti-migrant signs near the Colorado Capitol in late March.

The agency said Monday that Christopher Balli was cited on a municipal code violation on Thursday for illegally posting on public or private property, as the signs were attached to city street sign poles on March 22. However, Balli is not facing hate crime charges at this time.

The signs were bolted to the same posts as the city’s metal street signs and made to look like a normal street sign. However, the signs featured the words hookers, migrants and undocumented.

One sign said, “Caution undocumented Democrats” and showed people running with weapons, including one person hand-in-hand with a child. Another insinuated that migrants were acting as sex workers, with a sign below reading $20.

The driver who reported the signs before sunrise in March told FOX31 that they thought the signs were legitimate and “some kind of caution signs.” The signs were removed by Capitol crews and the Colorado State Patrol was investigating the matter. The signs were placed around the Colorado Capitol as Denver was dealing with an influx of migrants who were being bused into the city.

The signs were found at three locations:

• West 12th Avenue and North Acoma Street
• West Colfax Avenue and North Broadway
• 1400 block of North Grant Street

As of Monday, Denver’s Newcomer Sheltering and Support dashboard was reporting four people were in short-term shelters provided by the city, and two people had arrived in the city as of Sunday . In total, the city says it has helped 42,785 migrants and asylum seekers.

Denver police investigated signs for possible hate crime

DPD said the Denver Police Bias Motivated Crime Unit was assigned to the investigation because of the signs’ contents.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video to develop suspect and suspect vehicle information. Detectives also reviewed open-source online and social media content, which the department said helped the agency confirm Balli was the suspect.

The findings were presented to the Denver District Attorney’s Office, which determined the case did not meet the requirements for a Bias Motivated Crime charge. The Denver City Attorney’s Office determined the appropriate municipal charge.

Sign maker appears to be controversial online artist

An investigation is still ongoing into similar signs posted in Denver on Aug. 29 and investigators said it appears that the incidents are related. However, no citations or arrests have been made in the Aug. 29 incident, which referenced “Kamala’s illegals,” and showed silhouettes of people running — and the silhouettes appear to be the same as the “Caution undocumented Democrats” sign. Another sign referenced historical racism against Black people who were forced to sit in the back of public buses.

However, DPD told FOX31 that Balli appears to go under the internet alias “Sabo.” During the afternoon of Aug. 29, an email account linked with a website known for its controversial street art against progressive political candidates, sent an email to FOX31 enclosing pictures of some signs near the intersection of Nome Street and East Colfax Avenue.

In another email to FOX31, the sender, who wished to be referred to as “Sabo,” said the signs show how minority groups in Denver are now neglected in favor of migrants.

“Racist is allowing and funding with our tax dollars violent illegals (not migrants) on our streets to terrorize the poorest people of color in our communities,” Sabo wrote.

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