by Abigail Appel | Jul 29, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
On Friday and then again last night, there have been two shootings in our neighborhoods. This is not only disturbing, but it must end.
Last year, the Center for Disease Control issued a report stating that “gun violence still exists at epidemic levels” across the United States. Although crime rates are down in the City of Providence, that doesn’t bring relief to the residents that are having to live with this in their neighborhoods. In 2018, there was a gun death every 13 minutes, every day, in the United States.
This must end, and we need to ask our state and federal representatives to advocate for sensible gun laws that would remove guns from those that would use them to do harm, rather than for sport or self-protection. As a City Councilor, I have voted in favor of resolutions that were supportive of stronger and sensible gun legislation in the General Assembly.
When these incidents happen in our neighborhoods, witnesses and other concerned neighbors are often not updated on outcomes, and it perpetuates a feeling of considerable uncertainty and fear for those who live in the affected areas.
When we return from August recess, I plan to introduce a resolution calling on the City’s Public Safety Department to institute a City-wide gun-buy-back program in the hopes of getting some of these weapons off of our streets.
I have been in contact with our police department leadership, and the incident on Friday on Sharon Street and last night’s incident on Herschel Street are both active investigations. As I learn more, I will share with the community as soon as allowed.
Quality of life for our City’s residents is paramount, and something that I fight for every day as a City Councilor.
If you have any information regarding these incidents, please call the Providence Police Department’s non-emergency number at 401-272-1111 or filing a report online at
https://bit.ly/PVDPoliceReport .
Jo-Ann Ryan, Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilwoman – Ward 5
by Abigail Appel | Jul 23, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-12
Last night, I was at Fortnight just after 9PM when three police officers showed up claiming they had received a “noise complaint”. This seemed extremely unlikely to me — Fortnight was playing music just loud enough for the patrons of the bar sitting outside to hear, much less loud than the normal noise level outside on that block of downtown at night. Fortnight is a local bar that has vocally defended the Black Lives Matter movement and supported the movement in Providence to defund the police, and they have attested to being a frequent target of harassment by the police. Indeed, people from Fortnight and patrons told me that for the last few weeks Providence Police cars have been repeatedly driving past the bar w and turning on their sirens while passing with the purpose to harass, intimidate, and annoy patrons and workers and incidentally create a lot more noise than the music in question last night. I was also told that a Providence Police Officer yelled expletives out the window of their patrol car at a patron while driving by on July 17th at 8pm. The patron filled a police report and has received no response.
Upon arrival, three officers approached someone working at the bar. The first officer to speak to the worker was extremely belligerent and was yelling right in the workers face and refusing to stand farther away despite Covid-19 issues and repeated requests to do so. At this point someone working at the bar asked me to intervene. I noted that I was a Councilor, and was concerned about the presence of so many officers for such a minor complaint. After this a different officer spoke to the worker much more reasonably, said they had no intention of citing the bar and just wanted the music turned down. The bar staff then cooperated fully and turned the music off completely. However, minutes later 3 more police cars and four more officers arrived at the scene to respond, circling the bar in an act of intimidation — and proving that this had nothing to do with a noise complaint, as the bar had zero music on at all.
I am extremely frustrated by the Police Department’s response last night. It is clear to me that what I observed was an attempt to harass a small business for bravely supporting youth organizers and working alongside community leaders to defund the police. At a time when our small businesses are suffering, this seems particularly egregious. Further, I am disturbed that the Police officers on the scene were able to turn over body camera footage of our encounter last night, but the Providence Police Department has not yet released footage of the misconduct on the part of Sergeant Hanley.
I am committed to standing up on behalf of all small businesses in our community, particularly those who feel they are being targeted for constitutionally protected political speech.
Katherine Kerwin
Councilwoman-Ward 12
Providence City Council
by Abigail Appel | Jul 20, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15
“I am saddened to hear that two young people have been charged in connection with the July 1 murder of Jorge L. Gonzalez Colon in the Silver Lake neighborhood. This tragedy serves as a poignant reminder of the important conversations taking place in the City of Providence and across the nation about education and law enforcement. I commend the Providence Police Department for their diligent work on this case.
Let’s continue working towards creating a City in which youth are afforded the high quality education and after school programming that empower them through cyclical poverty and violence, and in which our Law Enforcement Officers continue to serve and protect their communities in a dependable and constructive manner.”
Sabina Matos
President-Providence City Council
Councilwoman-Ward 15
by Abigail Appel | Jul 19, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-15, Ward-4, Ward-5, Ward-6, Ward-7, Ward-8, Ward-9
We as elected leaders of our community stand against acts of violence and vandalism against our colleagues, their families, and our neighbors.
We condemn the actions that transpired at Councilman Igliozzi’s home over the weekend and hope that whoever is responsible is held accountable.
It’s okay to disagree and to let that dissent be heard at an appropriate forum.
Vandalizing the home and tormenting the family of an elected official, or anyone else for that matter, is crossing the line and will not be tolerated.
We stand with Chairman Igliozzi and will continue to work with all stakeholders to find solutions and condemn intimidation and coercion in all its forms.
We know that these are not the values our city and neighbors uphold.
by Abigail Appel | Jul 19, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-7
This weekend my family and I were the targets of acts of intimidation and violence demanding that I defund and abolish the Providence Police Department.
This individual(s) graffitied my property and also spiked the tires of both my son’s and my car. While the graffiti can be washed away, the spikes embedded in our tires could’ve caused serious bodily harm, or even worse.
This was not a political statement adherent to the spirit of our first amendment. This was an act of intimidation and censure by threat.
As an elected official who has served this city for many years, ideological differences and spirited debates regarding our future are not new.
Yet, engaging in this type of behavior that is meant to cause fear of bodily injury or of life is not something that I will ever condone.
Instead, I will continue to work with the community and my colleagues to find solutions to the problems and concerns that have been expressed through testimony and discussion at the Committee on Finance meetings.
Over the past few weeks, I have called on the members of the General Assembly to repeal the Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights (which would give more power to our Chief of Police to fire officers who would use their position to do harm instead of good). I have been working with my colleagues to create a social service crisis intervention unit within our City. This type of program would create a network of social service responders where individuals in crisis can get the help that they need without the use of an armed police response. This measure would also keep our police force in the neighborhoods so that they can do the job they were tasked to do – protect us. I have had national leaders in community policing attend our Committee on Finance meetings to share best practices. We have heard from CAHOOTS based in Eugene, Oregon, along with representatives from the STAR program based in Denver, Colorado. The Committee will continue to investigate these best practices so that we can launch a similar program here in Providence that meets the unique needs of our City.
I know the vandals that committed these acts are not representative of the community who has come before the City Council and asked for reform from the police department. I will continue to listen and learn from these and other members of our community, and work to help initiate positive reforms that will continue to make the Providence Police Department the best department in the nation.
John J. Igliozzi, Esq., Majority Whip
Chairman of the Committee on Finance
Damage to Councilman Igliozzi’s tires
Spikes used to cause damage to Councilman Igliozzi’s family property
Graffiti, spray painted on Councilman Igliozzi’s driveway and in front of his home
by Billy Kepner | Jul 17, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-5, Ward-7, Ward-9
Councilman John Goncalves (Ward 1) and Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 10) introduced a resolution at last night’s City Council Meeting calling on the City of Providence to recognize July 18 as Nelson Mandela International Day. The resolution was co-sponsored by Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5), Majority Whip John J. Igliozzi, Esq. (Ward 7), Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), Councilwoman Carmen Castillo (Ward 9), Councilor David A. Salvatore (Ward 14, Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3), Councilwoman Helen Anthony, Esq. (Ward 2), and Councilor Kat Kerwin (Ward 12).
“Nelson Mandela International Day was inspired by President Mandela’s call for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices when he said that ‘it is in your hands now,’ stated Councilman John Goncalves. “Nelson Mandela International Day is more than a celebration of his life and legacy, but it is a global movement to honor his life’s work and to change the world for the better. I believe that those of us in public service should heed that call and all work towards making a better tomorrow for those that come after us. From what we see happening in our own country at this very time, I believe that we can look to the work that President Mandela did and make a real change like he was able to achieve in his lifetime.”
On July 18, 2009 the United Nations declared Nelson Mandela International Day in recognition of the former President of South Africa’s dedication to the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist, and democratic South Africa.
President Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary who was imprisoned in 1962 for conspiring to overthrow the anti-apartheid government. He was originally sentenced to life in prison but was released 27 years later. His release came after outcries from world leaders, and due to the civil unrest and the fear of a civil war. For these reasons, President F. W. de Klerk released Mandela in 1990. Together, they worked to negotiate an end to apartheid which resulted in Mr. Mandela being elected the first Black President of South Africa in 1994.
In 1994, Nelson Mandela shared this story, “A friend once asked me how I could reconcile my creed of African nationalism with a belief in dialectical materialism. For me, there was no contradiction, I was first and foremost an African nationalist fighting for our emancipation from minority rule and the right to control our own destiny. But at the same time, South Africa and the African continent were part of the larger world. Our problems, while distinctive and special, were not unique, and a philosophy that placed those problems in an international and historical context of the greater world and the course of history was valuable. I was prepared to use whatever means necessary to speed up the erasure of human prejudice and the end of chauvinistic and violent nationalism.” Time goes on, but still, President Mandela’s words ring true today as they did then.
Mandela served one term as South Africa’s President and left to become a philanthropist who focused on combating poverty and HIV/AIDS through his foundation. In 1993, upon a visit to the United Stated Mandela was awarded one of the United States’ highest honors, the Liberty Medal, by then-President Bill Clinton. The same year he and President F. W. de Klerk were joint recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize.
President Mandela was an ardent supporter of education and education for all. He once stated, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” President Mandela died at the age of 95 on December 5, 2013.
Sadly, his youngest daughter, Zindzi Mandela, died at the age of 59 on Monday, July 13, 2020. Ms. Mandela served as South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is world renown for his values and his dedication to the service of humanity, through his work as a humanitarian in the fields of conflict resolution, race relations, promotion and protection of human rights, reconciliation, gender equality and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups, as well as the upliftment of the poor and underdeveloped communities.
“Tomorrow around the world there will be celebrations honoring the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of President Mandela. Let us take a moment here in Providence, especially with all of the division in our world, to come together in unity and solidarity, to reflect and follow in Mandela’s footsteps in advocating for a more peaceful, sustainable and equitable city for all,” stated Councilman John Goncalves.
