http://www.newstimeslive.com/news/story.php?id=1016425

Marchers take to the streets
Danbury lacks ordinance to govern parades


By Elizabeth Putnam
THE NEWS-TIMES

DANBURY -- With a protest march planned for today, the city remains without an ordinance on parades and marches, despite plans in May to research and possibly create one.

The city has never had an ordinance requiring anyone to obtain a permit to march or parade, which has left city officials with concerns about safety and traffic during previous marches. Although marchers do not need a permit to march down city streets, they do need permission from the state to march on Main Street and other state roads.

Today's protest march, which starts at 12:30 p.m., is the third immigration-related march in Danbury since June 2005. Sponsors of today's event -- the Danbury Area Coalition for the Rights of Immigrants, the Danbury Peace Coalition and the Ecuadorean Civic Center -- are upset over the federal roundup of 11 illegal immigrants from Ecuador last week.

Days after the last protest march in April, Mayor Mark Boughton asked the Common Council to research and draft an ordinance to govern parades and marches. If participants were required to have a permit, then the city would have a say over where and when a march takes place, Boughton said Thursday.

"We need to restore some order to that process. We really have no way of regulating groups," he said.

The mayor appointed a special committee at the May Common Council meeting to research possible ordinances. The committee, which is comprised of Common Council members Charlie Trombetta, Mary Saracino and John Esposito, met once in June. The city's Corporation Counsel is also researching other communities' ordinances, Trombetta said.

"It's a protection for not only the people marching but for the public, too," he said.

The committee is expected to meet again earlier next month and likely file a report with the Common Council in November.

Those who object to the ordinance said the city is being too controlling.

"It would not be a good idea," said Franklin Peña, president of the Ecuadorean Civic Center. "You are free to walk from one point to another."

Although Danbury authorities expect today's protest march to be peaceful, there is always concern something could go wrong, Police Chief Al Baker said.

Organizers are asked how many people will attend, and the department is still deciding how many officers will be needed, he said.

Advocates outraged over the arrests announced Wednesday that they plan to hold the march to urge federal officials to free the 11 men arrested Sept. 19.

Participants plan to gather at Kennedy Park and march up New Street to City Hall.

The arrests last week were part of a federal program called "Return to Sender," in which the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency are conducting sting operations across the country.


Contact Elizabeth Putnam

at eputnam@newstimes.com

or at (203) 731-3411.

March on Danbury


WHAT: Protest march to urge federal officials to free the 11 illegal immigrants from Ecuador arrested Sept. 19.

WHEN: Today, 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Participants plan to gather at Kennedy Park and march up New Street to City Hall.

SPONSORS: Danbury Area Coalition for the Rights of Immigrants, the Danbury Peace Coalition and the Ecuadorean Civic Center.