Helena Abrantes, Democratic candidate for Mayor, issued the following statement regarding recently disclosed racist e-mails.
“These e-mails are outrageous and offensive and have no place in our city. Unfortunately, they are the outgrowth of the politics of fear and division the current mayor has inflicted on Danbury. The mayor is the leader of our city and the Republican Party of which Mrs. Basso and he belong. Sadly, this reflects on his lack of leadership. He should be outraged as the rest of our community is about this matter. This situation has depicted Danbury in a negative light again. The people of Danbury expect and deserve better than this. Pitting people against people does not build a strong city. I want to see respect for one another and respect for community returned to Danbury,” Mrs. Abrantes stated.
“I agree with the NAACP, local religious leaders and The News-Times and believe it would be in the best interests of all the people of Danbury for Mrs. Basso to immediately resign her position,” she said.
Helena Abrantes and the Democratic Town Committee have worked hard to craft a platform targeted at bringing our entire community together through a civil discourse of the issues and challenges facing Danbury. This positive approach is directed in contrast to the air of division and polarization that has been permeating our community.
“Yet, the Mayor refuses to commit to my call for 3 additional debates, two of which have been offered by the Portuguese Civic League with the League of Women Voters, and another by the Debate Society at Western Connecticut State University,” Abrantes said.
“Thus far, the Mayor has indicated no intention of asking for Mrs. Basso’s resignation. It is becoming clearer everyday that, when its people versus politics, “people over politics” is just a hollow slogan,” Abrantes went on to say.
“I want to restore dignity, respect and civility to our City and its government,” Abrantes concluded.
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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
Helena Abrantes, Democratic candidate for Mayor, issued the following statement regarding recently disclosed racist e-mails.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
