VIDEO: More Conflicts for Providence Police Thursday, Few Defenders
GoLocalProv News Team
VIDEO: More Conflicts for Providence Police Thursday, Few Defenders
According to the press release from his office, “All, the Back The Blue rally scheduled for tonight has been CANCELED due to inclement weather. The event will be rescheduled at a later date.” It did not rain.
Instead, a couple dozen Black Lives Matter protestors showed up outside of the Providence Public Safety Complex. That protest ended with police making arrests and one officer was knocked to the ground.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFor most Providence residents, the police are the first call when people are in need of help, but the men and women in blue are finding few public supporters.
The video posted by Jonathan Riccitelli saw comments mostly backing the police, and calling the BLM movement "violent."
A photo posted of the police in riot gear by Camilo Vive, however, had a different take.
"Right Now: Your eyes are needed to watch the providence police! If you can please go to 325 Washington Street PVD. Just now a young Black woman was beaten by the police. We need solidarity now," wrote Vive.
VIDEO: Jonathan Riccitelli via Facebook
Kerwin told police that downtown neighbors should “f—king get over it,” after a complaint was made about loud music at a bar — that was not licensed for entertainment.
After the report by GoLocal, Kerwin issued a statement alleging Providence Police were harassing the bar. In June, operators of the bar were arrested after they spray-painted anti-police graffiti on Providence City Hall.
Kerwin said in her statement: Last night, I was at Fortnight just after 9PM when three police officers showed up claiming they had received a “noise complaint”. This seemed extremely unlikely to me -- Fortnight was playing music just loud enough for the patrons of the bar sitting outside to hear, much less loud than the normal noise level outside on that block of downtown at night.
Fortnight is a local bar that has vocally defended the Black Lives Matter movement and supported the movement in Providence to defund the police, and they have attested to being a frequent target of harassment by the police.
The Providence Police are facing more difficult times as an incident caught on tape may soon be released. Paré has refused for weeks to release a video of an incident between now suspended Providence Police Sergeant Joseph Hanley and a citizen in police custody.
On April 19, 2020, police were dispatched to a domestic dispute call on Knight Street that led to the arrest of Markese Davis and Rishod Gore. Once Gore was apprehended and handcuffed, it is alleged that Hanley struck Gore several times.
On July 8, 2020, Elorza released a statement that the City was working with the State’s Attorney General to charge Hanley and to terminate his employment with the City of Providence Police Department.
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha and Paré have refused to release the video of the incident for three months.
In contrast, Atlanta police released the video, including body camera video of the shooting of Rayshard Brooks less than 48 hours after the incident.
Last week, the City Council voted last week to issue a subpoena to Paré to release the Handly video.
According to Matos, the move comes at the request of Providence External Review Authority (PERA) Executive Director Jose Batista.
“Last week PERA held a meeting relative to the ongoing investigation into the alleged assault of a Rishod Gore, who was handcuffed at the time of the alleged assault, by Sgt. Joseph Hanley," said Matos. “The Public Safety Commissioner refused to allow PERA access to the body camera footage despite PERA being empowered by ordinance to oversee these types of internal investigations. This subpoena will now require that this footage be handed over to PERA so that they may do their due diligence as part of their review.”
Elorza, who has a convoluted position about policing, was quick to call them when demonstrators showed up at his home. Elorza, who already receives protection and a driver via the Providence Police, demanded additional protection.
Last weekend, Providence City CouncilorJohn Igliozi’s home and vehicle were damaged by vandals and he too sought Providence Police protection.
Most of the members of the Providence City Council issued a statement condemning the vandalism, but some council rivals were noticeably quiet. Notable was that Igliozzi critics, Councilors Nirva LaFortune and Rachel Miller, did not sign onto the statement condemning vandalism at Igliozzi’s house. The City Council office would not respond to questions about their absence.
Elorza did not issue a comment about the incident for three days.