Providence Riot: Nearly Everyone Arrested in Providence Was From Rhode Island

Providence Riot: Nearly Everyone Arrested in Providence Was From Rhode Island

Despite claims by some politicians that the vandalism and rioting in Providence were caused by outsiders  —  Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza announced that of the 65 arrested overnight by the State and Providence police — only 5 were non-Rhode Island residents.

According to Elorza, 35 of the 65 were Providence residents. Another 25 live in Rhode Island and 5 are Massachusetts residents.

Elorza made the statement at a 8:15 AM press conference.

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Others had tried to blame outside agitators.

“Last night our city was pillaged and preyed upon by out-of-Town agitators and impressionable opportunists.  Don’t be fooled by their calls for justice. Don’t let them purposefully tarnish the peaceful call and movement for reform,” claimed Providence City Council President Sabina Matos, but her statement proved false.

“The chaos that ensued last night was not promulgated by our community. These weren’t our usual neighborhood organizers who descended onto our streets,” Matos added.

Rioters not only hit Providence Place Mall, but they also vandalized and looted small businesses across multiple neighborhoods in Providence.

Retailers, banks, law offices, restaurants, and apartment buildings were some of the locations hit by vandals early Tuesday morning.

Neighborhoods ranging from Westminster Street to Downtown to Waterplace to South Main Street to name a few of the areas vandalized or looted.

There are also reports of vandalism on Thayer Street and on Federal Hill