The city of Brockton, Massachusetts, has announced an emergency curfew for Friday evening to prevent a recurrence of the violent street chaos that erupted during recent World Cup celebrations. The strict local mandate comes as the Cape Verdean national football team prepares to face global powerhouse Argentina in an unprecedented Round of 32 knockout match in Miami.
To maintain public safety, Brockton’s emergency curfew will run from 10:00 PM Friday through 5:00 AM Saturday, exempting only designated first responders and medical personnel. The city is also severely limiting alcohol sales; local bars and entertainment venues must observe a strict last-call for drinks at 9:30 PM, and no new patrons will be allowed entry into any alcohol-serving establishment after 7:00 PM.
Read more about this topic: World Cup: euphoric Cape Verde celebrates draw in the streets like a victory (with video)
Highlighting the severity of the security threat, Brockton Emergency Management Director Steve Hooke confirmed that municipal leaders have formally requested auxiliary support from the Massachusetts National Guard to reinforce local police units.
The massive community response reflects the unique demographic makeup of Brockton, a city of 100,000 residents situated south of Boston that serves as home to nearly 17,000 people of Cape Verdean descent.
The West African archipelago, with an overall population of just 530,000, has captivated the global sports community by becoming the smallest nation in history to reach the World Cup knockout rounds. Ranked 67th globally, the unbeaten underdogs face a monumental task on Friday at 6:00 PM when they take the field against top-ranked, reigning world champions Argentina.
