BROCKTON, Mass. — A Massachusetts city that is home to one of the largest Cape Verdean populations in the country is implementing a nighttime curfew before Cape Verde’s upcoming World Cup game, after police reported that recent postgame celebrations turned violent, with shootings and stabbings leaving multiple people injured.
Brockton Mayor Moises Rodrigues announced the measure at a Wednesday news conference, calling it a “temporary safety curfew.” Cape Verde, an island nation located off Africa’s western coast that is making its first-ever World Cup appearance this year, is set to take on Argentina in the tournament’s knockout round on Friday.
“The purpose of this curfew is to protect public safety, reduce criminal activity associated with post-game celebrations, and enable police, fire and emergency personnel to effectively maintain order and respond to emergencies,” Rodrigues said.
The curfew will be in effect from 10 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Saturday across parts of Brockton, a suburb of Boston where thousands of fans have flooded downtown streets after Cape Verde’s previous matches — waving flags, dancing, and celebrating well into the night. Bars and other establishments that serve alcohol will stop admitting new customers at 7 p.m., with last call set for 9:30 p.m.
Brockton holds one of the biggest Cape Verdean communities anywhere in the nation. Roughly one out of every five residents traces their roots to Cape Verde, and the city has long been known informally as the “11th island” of the Cape Verdean archipelago.
Cape Verde’s historic run in the World Cup has energized its diaspora, drawing large and enthusiastic crowds in Brockton following each match. City officials have consistently emphasized that the vast majority of those gatherings have been peaceful.
However, police say a pattern of violence has also followed the celebrations. According to Brockton police, at least nine people have been shot in incidents connected to World Cup matches or crowd gatherings downtown. Additional victims were hurt in stabbings.
In recent days, detectives released surveillance images and video from several of those shootings — including one near Main Street as crowds assembled on June 21 and a second that same night at a nearby gas station — and asked the public to help identify those responsible. Police also said they connected a suspect in a separate investigation to a shooting that took place after a World Cup match.
Officials confirmed that the curfew does not apply to first responders, people commuting to or from work, or those seeking medical attention. First Amendment rights, including the ability of journalists to cover events, will also be honored.
Police Chief Brenda Perez acknowledged that the department is short-staffed and has needed to call on outside help — including the Massachusetts State Police, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, and nearby police departments — during previous celebrations. She said more than 200 officers were deployed during recent World Cup gatherings, though she declined to outline specific plans for Friday night.
Steve Hooke, who leads the Brockton Emergency Management Agency, confirmed that the city has formally requested National Guard assistance, but he would not discuss operational specifics or whether that request has been approved.
