City Council Decides Contentious Fireworks Curfew Proposal

After activists, city residents and youths decried a proposed four-day curfew for the Detroit’s big regional fireworks festivities, the city council said it would limit a proposal by the city’s police chief to one night only.

The action by the Detroit City Council means the curfew for youths 17 and younger who aren’t accompanied by an adult will be in effect only from 6 p.m. Monday, June 22, to 6 a.m. Tuesday, June 23. The curfew is the same as in years past.

Police Chief James Craig had wanted to put a curfew in effect Friday through Monday. The annual Freedom Festival fireworks show, a metro Detroit tradition for 57 years, is scheduled to take place place at 10:06 p.m. at Hart Plaza. The event draws thousands to the RiverWalk.

Craig said his curfew proposal was focused on ensuring parental responsibility, youth safety and reducing criminal activities.

Among those criticizing the plan was the Rev. Dr. Tellis J. Chapman, pastor of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, who said youths attending a downtown Baptist convention that coincides with the festival. Chapman said the event is expected to draw thousands, and he doesn’t want youths to end up at the police precinct, The Detroit News reports.

• Related: Patch’s BIG LIST of 4th of July Fireworks in Southeast Michigan

Ron Scott of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality called the proposed curfew extension a “first step toward criminalizing a generation.”

“It takes away parental discretion,” Scott said, according to WWJ. “We make the assumption that if you ticket the parents that things are gonna change. Don’t tell black people how to raise their children. Don’t tell us how to do that, because I think that we’re wise enough to know how to do it.”

Last year, nearly 150 juveniles were detained at the fireworks for violating curfew and faced fines from “parent responsibility citations.”

______

Photo by mapimi via Flickr