Animal Rights Group Wants Danbury Mall To Cancel Fireworks Show

DANBURY, CT — An animal rights organization hopes to shut down the fireworks — but not the celebration — scheduled for Friday at the Danbury Fair Mall.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Brooke Manno, the mall's senior manager of business development, offering to dish up free vegan ice cream to every attendee of the free bash if Danbury Fair agreed to cancel the fireworks.

"The booms and blasts of fireworks scare wildlife out of their nests, terrorize dogs out of their yards, and send veterans back to the worst days of war," PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement. "PETA is eager to help Danbury Fair kick off the holiday weekend with a celebration that’s fun, not frightening."

The mall scheduled the fireworks to kick off the Labor Day weekend after missing two Independence Day celebrations over coronavirus concerns.

PETA wants them to remain cancelled, permanently.

"Traditional fireworks sound like an all-out war—not only to those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder but also to dogs, cats, and wildlife—and their use has devastating consequences," Newkirk wrote in the letter to Manno. She urged the mall's management to "consider providing other celebratory displays, like a laser-light show, and skip the fireworks this year and in the future. If you agree to cancel them, PETA will hand out free vegan ice cream to attendees at the event."

As of Tuesday morning, 343 residents indicated they would be attending the fireworks show on the mall's Facebook page. The event is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3, with fireworks beginning around 9:30 p.m.