City Council affirms 11 p.m. curfew
|
By Staff. Racine Journal-Times (Racine, Wis.) September 6, 2000. After a modest rally outside City Hall to repeal the 11 p.m. curfew, Racine aldermen voted unanimously and without discussion Tuesday to keep the curfew intact. Several young people, as well as U.S. Senate candidate Tim Peterson of the Libertarian Party, said they feel the curfew violates First Amendment rights and is a form of discrimination against teens. Daniel McGuire, leader of the local curfew-repeal efforts, asked aldermen during a public comment period at their meeting to at least read a study he presented last week to the Public Safety and Buildings Committee. The California study found no support for the idea that cities with curfews have lower crime levels or lower rates of juvenile violent death than communities without curfews. "They're supposed to be public servants, representatives of the people, yet when people come to ask them to consider something ... they're not giving it a chance,'' McGuire said after the council's 15-0 vote. The decision followed a unanimous committee vote last week to recommend leaving the curfew intact. Leaders of the Racine Police Department said the 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, which applies to everyone under 18 years of age, is needed to help maintain order in the city. McGuire said a petition drive has begun to get the issue on a ballot for all Racinians to decide. The group has collected about 40 signatures on the petition, he said. The group will have 60 days to collect the 3,556 signatures necessary to get the issue on the ballot. The number is based on the number of citizens who voted in the last election for governor. McGuire, who is a director of the youth-rights group Americans for a Society Free from Age Restrictions, acknowledged it will be tough to get 3,556 signatures. "I'd like to be confident and say we will, but that's a lot,'' he said. About 10 curfew protesters gathered in front of City Hall before the meeting, waving neon placards with the words "Repeal the Curfew." Peterson, of Oconomowoc, said he got involved because young people must have the choice to express their First Amendment rights. "I think the government needs to stop acting like parents," he said. "I think curfews are for parents to decide. I think this is a violation of the First Amendment for young people." Several cars driving past the group honked their horns in what appeared as support of the cause. Others signed the petition to end the curfew in Racine. Local supporters such as Edward Gamble, 15, Anthony Judon, 16, and Darrius Monroe, 16, said they were vehemently opposed to the curfew. "I don't want to have a curfew," said Judon. "I just signed it to support the cause," said Monroe. "All we want to do is just have fun. We're not going to do nothing bad. We just want to have fun." Members of ASFAR organized the event. Members said they firmly believe that when government agencies set curfews, it violates their civil rights. "We're one of the only groups in America who are trying to restructure the legal rights of young Americans," said Aaron Biterman of Brookfield, an ASFAR board of directors member. "We're getting a lot of support in Europe, where they don't have curfews." Biterman said the organization plans on starting a chapter in Racine because of growing interest in the group and its related issues. |
|