New London residents to rally
Protest marks 1st City Council meeting since high-court decision

World Net Daily | June 30 2005

Supporters of the residents of New London, Conn., whose homes are in dangers in the wake of last week's Supreme Court landmark eminent-domain decision will hold a rally at the town's City Hall on Tuesday.

According to a statement from the Institute for Justice, which has defended the New London residents, two of the plaintiffs, Susette Kelo, for whom the case is named, and Michael Cristofaro will participate in the rally set for 6 p.m. before the City Council meeting.

Said the statement: "This will be the first City Council meeting after the decision, and the protesters hope to send a clear message to New London's City Council: Let these people stay in their homes. The city does not need their property to do new development projects. The Fort Trumbull homeowners are American heroes who should be honored, not evicted."

The Kelo v. City of New London decision, handed down Thursday, allows the New London municipal government to seize the homes and businesses of residents to facilitate the building of an office complex that would provide economic benefits to the area and more tax revenue to the city. Though the practice of eminent domain is provided for in the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution, this case is significant because the seizure is for private development and not for "public use," such as a highway or bridge. The decision has been roundly criticized by property-rights activists and limited-government commentators.

Also scheduled to attend the rally are Institute for Justice's Scott Bullock and Dana Berliner, who litigated the Kelo case before the Supreme Court.