NYPD Denies Parade Permit to African Immigrants Group, No Compromises
The African Diaspora Education Society would like to be making final preparations for a public celebration of African Immigrant cultures in Harlem. Instead they're planning for a legal showdown with the NYPD.
The African Diaspora Education Society is trying to put on a big event to showcase the some 53 various cultures of new African Immigrants, with a parade, street fair and music and dancing in Harlem in August. But like other recent parade plans we have learned about, the NYPD has denied their request, and the Police are offering no alternatives. Instead they told the group to join another parade that has Black people.
This story is very similar to that of PRIDEfest for which a permit was requested well in advance, but then was denied at the last minute by the NYPD. The African Diaspora Education Society filed for a permit well in advance of their planned event to allow sufficient time for any conflicts to be resolved. Their permit application was file on January 11, 2007, for a parade to be held on August 5th, 2007. The permit was denied May 23rd when the Police invited them in for a meeting.
Police gave a number or reasons for denying the permit including: That the parade would interfere with traffic on 116th St. That there were already too many events scheduled for August 5th and that the Police could not staff all of the events without paying overtime. The parade would be popular and get larger in future years and become more difficult to police. That there was already and African American Day parade, and that the ADES should join that parade, rather than having their own event. The African American Day parade celebrates the African-American experience and is in October, not August.
The reasons for denial were left completely vague by the NYPD. The organizing group was NOT informed of any specific conflicts with the proposed route of the parade, nor does the denial state what event(s) conflicts with the proposed parade. Additionally, no reason is provided for why any such conflict could not be addressed through an alternative route, time, or date for the parade; all of which were things the African Diaspora Education Society were willing to negotiate on. The NYPD simply said no without showing a need for the denial.
It is also worth noting that the proposed parade is to occur on a Sunday afternoon, when traffic on the proposed route and nearby streets will be at a minimum.
Council for the organizers have filed an administrative appeal with the NYPD demanding they explain what events conflict with the parade, and why conflicts could not reasonably be resolved through changes in time and or location. "I do not believe advising my client to join another parade constitutes a reasonable effort to find a suitable alternative."
"This celebration of the many nations of Africa and their immigrants is very different from a celebration of the African-American culture and experience. The suggestion that my clients simply join a parade with a clearly different intent and purpose does not provide a suitable alternative to the proposed event. The Department’s reliance on superficial similarities between these groups is deeply troubling."
If the appeal does not work out, the city may be facing another lawsuit over a parade permit. "The legal standard for a prior restrain of a party’s First Amendment Protected speech is exceedingly high! Denying access in such an arbitrary manner may be exposing the City of New York to numerous civil damages." said the groups' Council.
Organizers want to hold a parade to promote African culture in New York City (note not the African-American experience) and the unity of different African immigrant groups in the city. The Parade will help expose New Yorker's to the diverse cultures of the many nations of Africa while helping immigrants preserve their culture identity and foster and understanding of their African culture in their children. The 53 nations of Africa are extremely diverse and it is hoped that this event can help bridge some of the historical differences between different national groups and promote cooperation amongst different African immigrant groups in New York.
The proposed parade is to start at 2pm on Sunday August 5, 2007 on 116th st. and Madison Avenue and proceed west on 116th st. to 8th Ave. It was hoped that there would be a street fair on 116th between 8th Ave. and Manhattan Ave. and a stage for musical performance and a fashion show on 116th between Manhattan Ave. and Morningside Ave. But it appears that the street fair is guaranteed to be canceled because the police require street fairs be applied for 1 year in advance. The event is expected to end by 9pm.
The African Diaspora Education Society works to foster cooperation between African immigrants from all parts of Africa in encouraging education and community awareness. They encourage the pursuit of higher educations by African students through scholarships, awards, and education fairs.
The African Diaspora Education Society is trying to put on a big event to showcase the some 53 various cultures of new African Immigrants, with a parade, street fair and music and dancing in Harlem in August. But like other recent parade plans we have learned about, the NYPD has denied their request, and the Police are offering no alternatives. Instead they told the group to join another parade that has Black people.
This story is very similar to that of PRIDEfest for which a permit was requested well in advance, but then was denied at the last minute by the NYPD. The African Diaspora Education Society filed for a permit well in advance of their planned event to allow sufficient time for any conflicts to be resolved. Their permit application was file on January 11, 2007, for a parade to be held on August 5th, 2007. The permit was denied May 23rd when the Police invited them in for a meeting.
Police gave a number or reasons for denying the permit including: That the parade would interfere with traffic on 116th St. That there were already too many events scheduled for August 5th and that the Police could not staff all of the events without paying overtime. The parade would be popular and get larger in future years and become more difficult to police. That there was already and African American Day parade, and that the ADES should join that parade, rather than having their own event. The African American Day parade celebrates the African-American experience and is in October, not August.
The reasons for denial were left completely vague by the NYPD. The organizing group was NOT informed of any specific conflicts with the proposed route of the parade, nor does the denial state what event(s) conflicts with the proposed parade. Additionally, no reason is provided for why any such conflict could not be addressed through an alternative route, time, or date for the parade; all of which were things the African Diaspora Education Society were willing to negotiate on. The NYPD simply said no without showing a need for the denial.
It is also worth noting that the proposed parade is to occur on a Sunday afternoon, when traffic on the proposed route and nearby streets will be at a minimum.
Council for the organizers have filed an administrative appeal with the NYPD demanding they explain what events conflict with the parade, and why conflicts could not reasonably be resolved through changes in time and or location. "I do not believe advising my client to join another parade constitutes a reasonable effort to find a suitable alternative."
"This celebration of the many nations of Africa and their immigrants is very different from a celebration of the African-American culture and experience. The suggestion that my clients simply join a parade with a clearly different intent and purpose does not provide a suitable alternative to the proposed event. The Department’s reliance on superficial similarities between these groups is deeply troubling."
If the appeal does not work out, the city may be facing another lawsuit over a parade permit. "The legal standard for a prior restrain of a party’s First Amendment Protected speech is exceedingly high! Denying access in such an arbitrary manner may be exposing the City of New York to numerous civil damages." said the groups' Council.
Organizers want to hold a parade to promote African culture in New York City (note not the African-American experience) and the unity of different African immigrant groups in the city. The Parade will help expose New Yorker's to the diverse cultures of the many nations of Africa while helping immigrants preserve their culture identity and foster and understanding of their African culture in their children. The 53 nations of Africa are extremely diverse and it is hoped that this event can help bridge some of the historical differences between different national groups and promote cooperation amongst different African immigrant groups in New York.
The proposed parade is to start at 2pm on Sunday August 5, 2007 on 116th st. and Madison Avenue and proceed west on 116th st. to 8th Ave. It was hoped that there would be a street fair on 116th between 8th Ave. and Manhattan Ave. and a stage for musical performance and a fashion show on 116th between Manhattan Ave. and Morningside Ave. But it appears that the street fair is guaranteed to be canceled because the police require street fairs be applied for 1 year in advance. The event is expected to end by 9pm.
The African Diaspora Education Society works to foster cooperation between African immigrants from all parts of Africa in encouraging education and community awareness. They encourage the pursuit of higher educations by African students through scholarships, awards, and education fairs.
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