TIMELINE: Protests to Riots to National Guard and Curfews - RI's Days of Stress
GoLocalProv News Team
TIMELINE: Protests to Riots to National Guard and Curfews - RI's Days of Stress
Rhode Island, already fragile due to the heath and economic crisis of the coronavirus, has had its confidence and psyche shattered due to violence.
It started with the death of George Floyd more than a week ago in Minneapolis - outrage, frustration, and protest spread across the country.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn Providence, Black Lives Matter led a peaceful protest on Saturday, but the protests and movement were pushed aside early Tuesday morning by a gang of approximately 500 intent only on violence, vandalism, and looting in Providence.
The tragic death of a black man in Minneapolis, a scene relived far too often, now has transformed many of America’s cities into both centers of civil protests contrasted with violence and burning.
SEE THE TIMELINE BELOW
TIMELINE: Protests to Riots to National Guard and Curfews - RI's Days of Stress
George Floyd's Death - Monday, May 25
A Minneapolis man dies while in the custody of four police officers.
This is just one of a number of recent deaths of black men and women.
Rhode Island Photographer Captures Protests and Police Response in Minneapolis - Thursday, May 28
Photographer Olga Enger, who owns Studio Newport - and hails from Minneapolis -- appeared on GoLocal LIVE to talk about her experience taking photos in the riots in the aftermath of the death of Floyd.
"We were nervous. We didn’t know what it was going to be like [for two white women] going into a race riot, to be honest," she said, of joining her sister to take photos in Minneapolis.
"The enemy wasn’t the mobs, [it] wasn’t the crowds — the mobs are angry and crying for justice," she said.
It was when she and her sister were hit with tear gas that shocked her.
"Your face is burning, your eyes are burning, and there was no medical personnel. It was a wake up for me," she said. "I believe that the officer [that threw the tear gas] targeted us. There was no mainstream media where we were."
Enger said she belive it was police officers "who were actually instigating" the violence.
"I had never experienced tear gas, until it hit me," said Enger, who added that she and her sister were aided by a protester who threw milk on them to stop the burning. "Once you get hit by tear gas once — when you see officers raising their tear gas guns or grenades, you run."
Minneapolis Police Officer Dan Chauvin Arrested - Friday, May 29
Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said he was notified that the officer identified as Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd had been taken into custody by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, according to the Star Tribune.
The Tribune reported, “County Attorney Mike Freeman announced a news conference for 1 p.m. Friday at the Ridgedale Public Library to announce a 'major development' in the case.”
He announced at Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
There is no word yet on the other three Minneapolis police officers who also were fired.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz vowed to restore order Friday after a third night of protests and violence in response to Floyd’s death in police custody led to the breach and destruction of a Minneapolis police precinct and dozens of other buildings across the city.
BLM Protest in Providence -- Saturday, May 30
Thousands turned out in Providence at Burnside Park and then marched to the Rhode Island State House seeking justice.
Black Lives Matter hosted the "George Floyd Rally" on Saturday.
Across the country, there have been dozens of protests and many of them turned to violence.
Urging Action
Black Lives Matter in Rhode Island has been urging people to contact Minnesota officials to demand the arrest of the officers involved in apprehending Floyd.
Officer Derek Chauvin was charged on Friday, but the three other police officers involved in the incident who were fired have yet to be charged.
Boston Erupts Into Violence - Sunday, May 31
Downtown Crossing in Boston turned violent at approximately 9:30 PM on Sunday night.
A crowd of approximately 200 vandalized a Boston Police SUV.
According to Boston Police, 40 were arrested by the end of the night and seven officers were injured.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh tweeted at nearly midnight, "I am angered, however, by the people who came into our city and chose to engage in acts of destruction and violence, undermining their message. If we are to achieve change and if we are to lead the change, our efforts must be rooted in peace and regard for our community."
Just after midnight, Governor Charlie Baker issued a statement.
GoLocal Unveils Police Staging for Violence - Monday, June 1
GoLocal unveiled Monday night that Rhode Island public safety officials were on high alert in Providence, following days of violence across the country.
Close to 60 police vehicles and officers — both Providence Police and Rhode Island State Police — were stationed around the State House, Providence Place Mall, and Providence Amtrak train station.
“We’re hearing what people are seeing on social media and just prepping up,” Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements told GoLocalProv shortly after 10 PM.
Clements said he could not elaborate on the nature of the threats.
Rioters Burn Providence Police Cruiser - Tuesday, June 2
It was just the beginning of a night of violence.
Violent riots broke out in Providence early Tuesday morning, with a Providence police cruiser set on fire shortly after midnight.
A video recorded by Nathan Jeffrey showed a large crowd gathered around Providence Place Mall confronting a line of police officers.
At the beginning of the footage, rioters can be seen inciting bystanders to take part in the violence.
Just after the 40-minute mark, a Providence police cruiser is vandalized — then set on fire.
Destruction and Looting - Tuesday, June 2
Providence turned violent after midnight as crowds gathered first outside Providence Place Mall and then spread throughout downtown.
As GoLocal first reported on Monday night, approximately 60 Providence and Rhode Island State Police vehicles were deployed by the State House, Waterplace, and Providence Place Mall area.
Rhode Island State Police Colonel James Manni told GoLocal at 4:30 AM, "This was an organized attack on Providence by armed and dangerous individuals. They were not protesters."
"We were prepared, and because of that the damage was mitigated," said Manni.
Individuals involved had flares, gasoline, crowbars, according to Manni. At least two were armed.
In total, Rhode Island State Police, Providence Police, and Massachusetts State Police totaled more than 150.
Police Readied for Riots
At about 10 PM on Monday night, Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements told GoLocal, “We’re hearing what people are seeing on social media and just prepping up."
The crowd, which was predominately white, voiced little about the death of George Floyd.
Providence Place Mall was broken into. Manni said that rioters wanted to burn the Mall, but Providence and State Police Swat teams removed them from the building.
Stores along Washington and Westminster Streets were vandalized and looted.
Throughout the night Providence and State Police were racing across the city to respond to destruction and looting. Helicopters were brought in to assist law enforcement.
A Providence Police vehicle located in front of Providence Place Mall was burned.
Police from communities across the state and Massachusetts State Police provided mutual aid.
More than 100 Stores Vandalized and Looted - Tuesday, June 2
Rioters not only hit Providence Place Mall, burned a Providence Police vehicle, and battled State and Providence Police, but they 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 ranged 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
65 Arrested, Almost All from Rhode Island -- Tuesday, June 2
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 an 8:15 AM press conference.
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.
Elorza Opposes Use of National Guard - Tuesday, June 2
In a statement to GoLocal on Tuesday morning, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza’s office confirmed that the Mayor opposed the use of the National Guard on Monday. “He has opposed deployment of military,” said Elorza’s office in an email.
Raimondo’s office refused to respond to requests for comments on deploying the National Guard before addressing the media shortly after 11 a.m.
Counting the stores in Providence Place more than 100 stores were damaged and looted.
According to Rhode Island State Police Colonel James Manni, the combined police presence responding to the rioting overnight, including Massachusetts State Police, totaled 150.
The rioters were estimated to be 500, according to police estimates.
Raimondo Activates National Guard - Tuesday, June 2
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo said Tuesday she will be deploying the Rhode Island National Guard following violent riots in Providence overnight.
Raimondo was joined by Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza — who said Tuesday morning he is “opposed to military presence” when asked about his views on having the National Guard in the city — and Attorney General Peter Neronha and Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Jim Manni outside Providence Place Mall Tuesday morning.
Watch Raimondo Press Conference HERE
“Today I stand disheartened, dismayed, outraged angry,” said Raimondo. “It was not a protest — what we saw was an organized attack on our community at a time when we are vulnerable. We saw violence, vandalism, looting, and arson. “
“Nearly 70 [protesters] were arrested, and almost all were Rhode Islanders,” said Raimondo. “We saw people who were arriving with flares, gasoline, crowbars who showed up intentionally with weapons to cause destruction and violence to hurt people and destroy our property.”
“I’ve activated the National Guard, we’re looking at other options including a curfew, we know there’s a big protest on Friday — our goal is to keep the people of Rhode Island as safe of possible," she said.
“We are using intelligence and surveillance constantly for the entire state,” said Raimondo.
Curfews Ordered - Tuesday, June 2
A few minutes after Cranston Mayor Allan Fung announced an 8 PM in his city, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza signed an Executive Order implementing a Providence curfew for Tuesday at 9:00 PM.
Mayor Joseph Solomon has also issued an 8 pm in Warwick.
The Providence, Cranston, and Warwick curfews will last until 6 AM on Wednesday.
Governor Gina Raimondo announced Tuesday she has activated the Rhode Island National Guard following a night of violent riots in Providence.
In a statement to GoLocal on Tuesday morning, Elorza’s office confirmed that the Mayor opposed the use of the National Guard.
“He has opposed deployment of military,” said Elorza’s office in an email.
The curfew will not apply to first responders, emergency medical technicians; individuals traveling directly to and from essential work or performing essential work; people experiencing homelessness and without access to a viable shelter; individuals seeking medical treatment or medical supplies or fleeing dangerous circumstances; police officers; peace officers; firefighters and members of the news media.
Curfews Come Under Fire - Tuesday, June 2
Late on Tuesday and in rapid-fire, Providence, Warwick and Cranston announced curfews with a number of variations -- and the RI ACLU and Common Cause came out with a number of concerns.
The ACLU said the curfews are "extraordinary, unnecessary, and, ironically, likely to lead to discriminatory enforcement by police."
"The imposition of blanket curfews within three cities in our state is an extraordinary and overly broad action that, ironically, can only promote the types of discriminatory police actions that have prompted peaceful protests this past week,” Steven Brown, Executive Director of the ACLU of Rhode Island.
"Each of these curfew orders contain a hodgepodge of exemptions. For example, Cranston allows an exception for people going to and from work, while Providence’s exemption is for 'essential' workers only. Warwick’s order creates an exemption for voters, while Cranston – the home of the Board of Elections – does not. In Cranston and Warwick, homeless individuals will automatically be violators of the orders," added Brown.
"In order to enforce these orders, police will be exercising enormous discretion in deciding which cars to pull over, and which individuals to stop, for possibly being out in violation of the curfew. History, decades of data, and present-day headlines teach us that such discretion will likely be enforced in a discriminatory manner," warned Brown.
Quiet Overnight - Wednesday, June 3
Law enforcement reports that areas of concern - Providence shopping areas, Warwick Mall, and Cranston's Garden City - were quiet overnight.
Helicopters were a constant presence throughout the evening.
There is significant concerns about the next few days.
