Unnoticed by many Rhode Islanders, nearly 100 people turned out at the Roger Williams Memorial Park on North Main Street in Providence for a Rally Against Criminalization: criminalization of people of color, informal work such as hair braiding, immigration status, feminist economics, drug use, people with records, neighborhoods of color and sex work. The event was one of the sharpest and most relevant critiques of the political and social climate in Rhode Island, and presents a direct challenge to a political class that seems interested in criminalizing itself out of every social issue, as evidenced by legislation such as Kristen's Law or the continued embrace of life sentences for juvenile offenders.
The rally was organized by Bella Robinson from the Rhode Island Chapter of COYOTE (Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics), Ria Marchetti from the March for Racial Justice, Sophia Wright, an organizer at DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality), with the support of Annajane Yolken at Protect Families First, the AMOR Alliance, the FANG Collective, Colectivo Sin Fronteras and many more.
There is stuff in the videos below that would be worthy of a series of blog posts, and I am sad that I am unable to unpack all the ideas below and do them justice.
"Today we rally in honor of International Sex Workers Rights Day," said Sophia Wright, "while recognizing the shared struggles for survival in a society that seeks to criminalize our bodies, our work, our words and our movements."
https://youtu.be/AoxjrHTk1uQ
"Nine times out of ten, if someone is putting the word 'illegal' in front of something it's because they want to make it corporate," said emcee Christopher Johnson, a local poet and activist, towards the end of the program. "There's a corporate reason behind mass incarceration."
https://youtu.be/_fXFq_xMDNQ
Bella Robinson of COYOTE RI:
https://youtu.be/n-wxw954hhQ
Steven and Daniel from PrYSM (Providence Youth Student Movement):
https://youtu.be/dNAzT7HAbYk
Michael Galipeau of the Rhode Island User's Union
https://youtu.be/IwOfKrnfsAA
Jesus Holguin
https://youtu.be/Jm55qI1nRXs
Jocelyn DoCouto
https://youtu.be/M46dvieU72M
Catarina Lorenzo of AMOR (Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance)
https://youtu.be/Y8AnqEb-I8Y
David Veliz of Progresso Latino
https://youtu.be/voTui8MujQQ
Monica Huertas of No LNG in PVD!
https://youtu.be/QgbjYC5S1pc
Terri Wright of DARE's Tenants and Homeowners Association
https://youtu.be/pdSHpCROkbg
Justice Gaines of Jobs With Justice
https://youtu.be/xFUBRh9c2BI
Vanessa Flores Maldonado led the campaign to pass the Community Safety Act and is now working on its implementation:
https://youtu.be/Ll12SvhGvpI
MJ Robinson and Aarish Rojiani of Black and Pink
https://youtu.be/ZdHUPrN36Mo
Anthony Hollins, Rhode Island User's Union
https://youtu.be/dHieRsqqsGE
John Prince, Behind the Walls Committee at DARE
https://youtu.be/_PMur0fRQnE
Elena Shih, COYOTE RI
https://youtu.be/t9vZsnlEzUs
Osiris Diensthuber PrYSM QT
https://youtu.be/lCQzc4w3APU
Lila Rose, COYOTE RI
https://youtu.be/Mk1t57Ebsqk
Christopher Johnson
https://youtu.be/R_3xPR2tars
Sophia Wright
https://youtu.be/5O4PcyCT65E
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