Rhode Islanders Ask: What's the Difference Between a “Social Gathering” and a Protest?

Rhode Islanders Ask: What's the Difference Between a “Social Gathering” and a Protest?

GoLocal has been contacted by Rhode Islanders who want to know if the new enforcement actions and more stringent restrictions on the size of “social gatherings” have an impact on protests.

Over the past few months, there have been conservative protests at the State House calling for the reopening of the economy, and in the past two months since the death of George Floyd, dozens of Black Lives Matter protests across Rhode Island.

Last week, Governor Gina Raimondo cut the number who could attend a social gathering from 25 to 15 and this week set up a hotline to Rhode Island State Police to report violations.

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Raimondo’s administration answered with an explanation of the difference.

“From a public health perspective, there is a difference between a protest – which is constitutionally protected – and a social gathering," said Joseph Wendelken, the Public Information Officer for the Department of Health.

"Whereas a significant number of cases have been traced back to social gatherings at which large groups of people are mingling, sharing food and drinks, getting within six feet of one another, and not wearing masks, we have seen almost no spread resulting from protests,” said Wendelken. 

The Rhode Island Department of Health has worked with the organizers of many protests over the last several months to distribute masks and encourage compliance with physical distancing,” he added.

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