On September 25, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton spoke at a rally sponsored by the Danbury-based anti-immigration group United States Citizens for Immigration Law Enforcement (USCFILE). This past Saturday, Boughton spoke at the “Drain the Swamp” rally, organized by Tea Party Patriot Bob MacGuffie. MacGuffie was responsible for last summer’s widely circulated memo, which suggested people attending town hall meetings artificially inflate their numbers, “rock the boat early” and “shout out” the Representative, in an attempt to “rattle” him or her. USCFILE favors, among other things, repealing the 14th Amendment and making English the official language of the United States. In addition, USCFILE’s president, Elise Marciano, has made more than a few controversial statements, including this bombshell about President Obama on Danbury Public Access television:
MARCIANO: “He’s not going to a Christian church. As President of the United States, he’s not going to a Christian church, even though he claims that the Reverend Wright’s church was Christian. How do you figure that? I’ll tell you why – because he was brought up as a Muslim, and he is a Muslim and they cannot go back on their religion.”
Marciano emceed USCFILE’s event on September 25, introducing Mayor Boughton, which was followed by warm handshake between the two.
“You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep,” said Democratic State Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo. “Certainly there are people concerned with the direction of our state and country, and they deserve to be part of our dialogue on the issues. But why would Mark Boughton agree to associate and campaign with people who are openly attempting to use intimidation and fear to prove their point? These were political stops for Mark – he spoke about his campaign, and that of his running mate, Tom Foley. He was asking for their support in November. What does Tom Foley have to say about his campaign asking groups like this for their support? The rhetoric and tactics Mr. MacGuffie and Ms. Marciano have used degrade our political process and do nothing to further an honest dialogue about the important issues that face the state. Mark Boughton and Tom Foley owe the people of this state an explanation.”
For someone who claimed that he wouldn't associate with anti-immigrant groups, Boughton is taking his lying to new levels...thankfully someone other than me is paying attention...
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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.
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.
