NEW YORK -- Every year since John Lennon was shot to death on Dec. 8, 1980, fans have held an all-night memorial in Central Park, singing his lyrics of peace and freedom within earshot of the Dakota, the West Side apartment building where Lennon lived.
But organizers of the annual memorials, at a mosaic circle bearing the title of one of Lennon's songs, "Imagine," complain that in recent years the city has broken up the vigils at 1 a.m., and heavy police patrols have brought an intimidating presence to an event honoring a musician who championed freedom of expression.In recent weeks, organizers of the vigil have circulated petitions and have held news conferences calling for a suspension of the curfew. But city officials, citing safety concerns and a "carnival atmosphere," remain adamant that the Lennon mourners will have to pack up their flowers, candles and acoustic guitars Wednesday night and leave Strawberry Fields promptly at 1.
Thomas K. Leighton, a founder of the John Lennon Memorial Committee, said the memorials had traditionally been late-night events in historical deference to the night Lennon died, when mourning fans began gathering outside the Dakota, at 72nd Street and Central Park West, around 11 p.m., soon after they heard the news that Lennon had been shot.
"They've made this an occasion for bashing the mayor and an excuse to drag in the ghost of John Lennon," said Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern. "If they wish to gather and sing until 1 a.m., fine, but to have a macabre commemoration of an assassination as an all-night pot party is not only disrespectful to the park but an insult to John Lennon. I think he'd rather have people commemorate his birthday."
Stern said he too was a John Lennon fan. As a city councilman he sponsored a law in 1981 creating Strawberry Fields, and in 1985 as parks commissioner he helped with plans to build the memorial mosaic. He said the critics were in a minority.
Candido Bonilla, another organizer of the vigil, disputed Stern's statements about safety. "In 18 years we've never had one incident," said Bonilla, 38, a jazz trumpet player. "There used to only be one or two cops there, but every year since Mayor Giuliani took office, the police have stormed in and kicked everyone out of the park."
Police vehicles, Bonilla complained, now surround the vigil and shine spotlights and headlights on the mourners.