At 6:00 sharp on Wednesday, August 27, a crowd of about 60 filled the sidewalk at the corner of Albany Avenue and Main Street as organizers waited for a few more expected people to arrive for a protest against the the recent tasing and arrest of Hartford teen Luis Anglero, Jr. Within the next few minutes, the demonstrators grew to about 75 and some Hartford Police personnel had joined them. Chief James C. Rovella, flanked by uniformed officers, approached the group and spoke with organizers, indicating that they intended to walk with the group. When organizers replied that they would prefer not to have the chief and the officers in their midst, he acknowledged hearing their wishes, but stated that he was going to walk along with the group anyway.
The demonstrators walked north along the Main Street sidewalk, chanting in call-and-response style, “He posed no threat-” “-they tased him!” “Drop the charges-” “-now! now!” They crossed main street near the Clay Arsenal fire station and walked south across Albany Avenue as HPD officers held up traffic for them. They continued south on High Street to the Public Safety Complex and filed into the lobby.
After quieting the chanters, Rev Cornell Lewis, Rabbi Donna Berman, and Rev. Damaris Whittaker took turns reading a prepared “Manifesto for the Hartford Police Department”
Lewis then explained that in honesty and fairness, Chief Rovella should have a chance to speak in his house. The chief spoke briefly, acknowledging the frustration of the group and explaining that the investigation of the incident was ongoing.
The group filed out, chanting, to the PSC parking lot where Steve Thornton addressed them briefly before they all walked north on High Street toward the March’s starting point.
The only moment of visible and audible tension in the peaceful event occurred as the demonstrators reached first corner on their return trip. An impatient driver in a white Ford pickup drove up close to the group as they crossed High Street from west to east. Two HPD cruisers approached, and an officer emerged, shouting that the group was not allowed to block the street. As activist Steve Thornton spoke with the officer, onlookers out of Thornton’s (but not the officer’s) earshot observed aloud that the group had the right-of-way according to the crossing signal. No explanation was given for this confusing point of contention but the demonstrators successfully crossed both High and Main Streets and returned to their starting corner without further incident.
