Sophie Sonnenfeld Photo.
Pastor Dennis Marroquin.
DERBY — Pastor Dennis Marroquin of New Beginnings Church was raised in Los Angeles, but during the 1992 Los Angeles Rodney King riots, Marroquin left for Arizona.
“I wanted nothing to do with it. I was 26 years old at the time and I took off running.”
Marroquin said he never thought he would see anything like it again, but now there are nationwide protests and riots pushing for racial justice catalyzed by the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. “Maybe we’re not seeing it close by to us, but I’m not running this time.”
In order to bring the Derby community together in peace and unity, Marroquin organized a peaceful rally on the Derby Green Friday evening. Despite a heavy downpour, at least forty residents circled around the gazebo listening to local leaders.
In his speech to the crowd, Mayor Richard Dziekan who served 31 years as a police officer in Hamden, said that both he and Derby Police Chief Gerald Narowski were dumbfounded by the Minneapolis police officers’ actions. “I couldn’t believe it because I wasn’t trained like that,” Dziekan said.
Derby Mayor Richard Dziekan.
Dziekan’s voice began to choke up as he emphasized the importance of the community coming together. “I love this city. I love the people that are here. I want everybody safe” Dziekan said.
The mayor praised the Derby police in terms of training and community outreach, but encouraged residents to contact his office with any questions.
Narowski, who grew up in Derby, said he is committed to bringing changes to the department. On the murder of George Floyd Narowski said, “What you saw was a failure of leadership. And my job is to make sure that doesn’t happen here.”
Derby Police Chief Gerald Narowski.
Narowski said some residents have approached him about setting up neighborhood watches and community gatherings which he said would need to be led by residents rather than police. “Every time we force that upon somebody it falls apart.”
He told the crowd he has an open door policy to hear ideas on what changes need to come and is scheduling personal ‘coffee with a cop’ conversations for interested residents next week.
“We can only do what you allow us to do and that comes from trust. You have to have faith that the system will work, and if it doesn’t why should you listen to us? You shouldn’t.”
State Sen. George Logan.
Other local officials including State Sen. George Logan, R‑Ansonia, and State Representatives Kara Rochelle and Nicole Klarides-Ditria, fortified their calls for unity, justice, and legislative change that they similarly stated at the Ansonia call for unity event Thursday afternoon.
State Rep. Kara Rochelle.
Rochelle called for all the residents to stay active in pushing for change and to treat each other with more kindness. “I think we’re here because we’re all starving for more humanity” said Rochelle.
Religious leaders and local officials join the crowd in prayer.
To close the event, religious leaders guided the crowd in interdenominational prayer. The moment was interrupted by the driver of a passing pickup truck. “George Floyd was a criminal” he shouted. It was the only negative reaction witnessed by The Valley Indy at four rallies and marches this week.
Ignoring the disruption, the spirit of the crowd and local leaders appeared unfazed as they completed the prayer.
Friday’s unity event was a culmination of informal events on the Derby Green this week. Resident Lisa Brailey held nightly candlelight vigils on the Green starting Monday.
