Government
Public services and government action
Elected officials moving swiftly to remove "Providence Plantations" from state name
"The steps I am announcing today are just the beginning, and I am fully committed to continuing to work alongside the community in stamping out individual and institutional racism in our state.” Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed...
Tenant Network Rhode Island rallies for eviction moratorium
"We know that evictions and homelessness mores affect communities of color. Black people are disproportionately represented in the homeless population. While only 13% of the general population, Black people make up about 40% of the homel...
Activists urge civilian oversight board to aid in defunding efforts
“When we’re talking about what it means to change policing in Providence … we need to start turning this conversation around from ‘how do we make the police better’ and start divesting funds from a failed system—and frankly I only say fa...
Woonsocket City Councilmember James Cournoyer responds
In response to Woonsocket City Council establishes a “Racist Policies Review Advisory Board” with little input from community Councilmember James Cournoyer sent the following email: I saw your typically slanted article with the usual mis...
Demand an end to the lethal status quo in nursing homes
“You know how you treat heroes? You give them the tools and compensation they need, not tell them to wait until it’s more convenient. We need the Assembly to immediately pass The Nursing Home Staffing & Quality Care Act because the statu...
Education is Freedom! The Central Falls Rally to fund the schools
"I am a child living in a hotspot during a global pandemic," said Juan Diego Estrada, a 6th grade student at Calcutt Middle School in Central Falls. "My teacher recently told us that her, and close to fifty our teachers a, including all...
Woonsocket City Council creates "Racist Policies Review Advisory Board" w/o input from community
"I'm not going to sit here and be held hostage by the whims of those who want a change that in my opinion becomes discriminatory in nature from the very outset," said Councilmember Brien, objecting to Kithes' amendment. "We're saying it'...
Neronha issues updated protocol for Attorney General’s review of use of force by law enforcement
“The updated protocol is significant because it expands our review authority to allow for independent review of most police use of force incidents. Our collective goal is to identify, and hold accountable, those officers who use excessiv...
As calls to Defund the Police increase, proposed House budget includes increases to State Police and prisons
The budget released late Monday afternoon and passed by the House Finance Committee on Tuesday includes increases in funding to both the Rhode Island State Police and Department of Corrections. This, even as calls rise across the country...
LaFortune accuses Igliozzi of appropriating her work on police accountability at Finance Committee hearing
"This is oppressive behavior," said LaFortune, before being muted for a final time. "Your statements are offensive behavior," said Igliozzi. On Tuesday afternoon Providence City Councilmember John Igliozzi (Ward 7), who chairs the City C...