Community Birthday Cookout for Katherine Colon Planned, Despite “Permit Dispute”

Family and friends of Katherine Colon say that they are inviting the community to special Birthday Community Cookout in Central Park on Sunday, despite, “the city of New Britain ongoing attempts to block the event in an attempt to further silence the Justice for Katherine movement.”

The event is planned for Sunday, June 29th at 4:00pm in Central Park.

Organizers say, “This gathering is dedicated to honoring Katherine’s memory through harm reduction, food, love, and meaningful community connections,” adding,

At the event, Katherine’s family will share updates on their ongoing fight for justice and address recent developments in their struggle with the City (up to and including the further harm the City caused to the family by attempting to obstruct this very event). Katherine Family will provide a space filled with activities that Katherine enjoyed doing and giving back to the community. Attendees can expect an atmosphere of solidarity, community connection, with food and activities provided for all.

Organizers say that the event is planned, “Despite the city’s ongoing attempts to block the event by claiming they have not had time to process the permit (even though the application was submitted in early May) and threatening to impose fees by police for use of the park, this event will still occur. The organizers have fulfilled all necessary documentation requirements, and the city failing to process the permit is a reflection of their attempts to further silence the Justice for Katherine movement.”

Colon’s family said that,

The city’s continued attempts to blame their own incompetence on failing to give us a permit and still threaten us with fees is a blatant disregard for our right to gather and honor Katherine. We stand firm in our commitment to community, justice, and remembrance. We invite everyone to come together with us — to share food, love, and a united voice for change.

The Justice for Katherine campaign has included a series of protests and advocacy since New Britain Police officer Connor Reinsch struck and killed Katherine Colon with the police car he was driving, as Colon was crossing West Main Street on September 21, 2023.

There was a large protest in October of 2023 in downtown New Britain calling for justice for Colon, another protest on September of 2024, held one year after Colon was killed and another protest was held in December of 2024, interrupting Mayor Erin Stewart (R) during the official city Christmas tree lighting event.

Family of Colon and other protesters have been calling for the firing of Reinsch, and have noted that a motorist other than a police officer who struck and killed a pedestrian would likely be arrested and even jailed.

A protest was held at the city Police Headquarters in March of 2024 in reaction to a February 24, 2024 report by State Attorney Maureen Platt clearing Reinsch of criminal liability.

Platt, in her report, had concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge Reinsch with a crime in the case. Her report had noted that he was traveling at, perhaps, 60 miles per hour on West Main Street, while traveling to a police call without his emergency lights on. Reinsch was quoted in saying that he was traveling to, “intercept an active burglary suspect” and that his attention was on another pedestrian he thought may be in medical distress when he struck Colon.

Platt’s conclusions were largely based on a state investigation that had concluded that it was Colon’s actions that, “were the causative factors for the collision, placing herself in unnecessary danger,” because, it said, she did not use the crosswalk and crossed the street diagonally, wore dark clothing and that she was intoxicated.

Protesters have taken great issue these conclusions, calling the reasoning to be “victim blaming.”