Opinion
Editorial pieces from contributors and staff
Steve Ahlquist: Violence in Providence has been politically weaponized
The political response to the recent violence in Providence is being used to win a battle in the culture war, and is not likely to be an honest look at the root causes.
ACLU sues RI Dept of Corrections over continued incarceration of inmates granted parole
“The DOC’s decision to upend decades of consistent interpretation of the State’s parole laws where there has been no change in the law and no mandate to do so has effectively increased the sentences that individuals must serve before being eligible for release," said ACLU cooperating attorney Lynette Labinger. "It is ill-considered and unnecessary. It not only contravenes the law; it is poor public policy.”
RI Transit Riders demands a responsible approach to central bus hub
Riders urge Governor to halt rollout of flawed plan and start working with the community to develop a better one
Coalition condemns Cranston Police charging 11 alleged sex trafficking victims & calling it "rescue"
"Arrest is not help. Prostitution stings are exploitive and traumatic, and prostitution charges make it difficult or impossible for the 'rescued' arrestee to find work outside of the adult industry."
Ocean State Advocacy: Arrest is never the answer to human trafficking
"Spa raids and arrests are never about 'provid[ing] various resources that will help them escape the situation that was imposed on them'... and are very much about using whatever means possible to surveil, detain, and exploit spa workers," says Ocean State Advocacy in a Statement. "Spa workers involved in sex work and spa workers not involved in sex work deserve safe working conditions free from the threat of arrest or detainment."
Trapped by Blue Cross’s lies
Before you’re treated, they say doctors are in their network. Afterward, they pay nada, saying many of those doctors aren’t in-network.
Redistricting will always end in gerrymanders
"There is simply no way to draw single-member districts that will not require sacrificing one or more of the values. Draw districts for partisan fairness, and we’ll see complaints about respecting natural and political boundaries and separating communities of interest. If you overemphasize compactness, you can violate the VRA very easily."
An Open Letter to the Nonviolence Institute:
We are community members and organizations writing to ask that you distribute the $500,000 in funding you were awarded by Rhode Island Foundation and Brown University directly to the families and young people who have been impacted by the shootings in our cities... We additionally call on you to end collaboration with police in your efforts to intervene in this violence, and to invest in healthy and affordable housing, economic opportunity, mental health, recovery, and reentry services, strong public schools, out of school programs, and safe spaces for youth.
Jackie Goldman: Repeal RI's Law Enforcement Officer's Bill of Rights
While Rhode Island is only one of 15 states with this kind of legislation it is the the only state in New England with this legislation. In fact, in April, 2021, the state of Maryland repealed LEOBOR. Ultimately, there was consensus that repealing LEOBOR would make communities safer because police would be held accountable for their conduct and have a greater standard for public transparency.
Environmental Council of RI turns 50 - Staying relevant means responding to calls for environmental justice
"We shall find new ways to bind our community together, we will better incorporate justice into our understanding of environmental issues, we shall better understand how issues are connected, and we shall be better neighbors and allies for front line communities. It will be a bit messy, misunderstandings and history will make it a bit bumpy. But we are all aware that the issues we all care about will only be resolved if we pay attention to the moral arc and move consciously towards justice."