Protesters at R.I. governor’s residence call for defunding Providence police

PROVIDENCE — Around 30 protesters gathered in front of Gov. Gina Raimondo’s house for about four hours on Saturday evening to call on her to reallocate funds away from the Providence Police Department.

Though protesters said they were willing to stay all night, the group dispersed peacefully at around 7:45 p.m. No arrests were made.

Protesters lined the sidewalk at the edge of Raimondo’s residence at 125 Morris Ave. and were careful not to block the street. They chanted slogans, including, “No justice, no peace!” and “Free the people! Fight the power! [expletive] the police!” toward the governor’s house. All the blinds in the windows were closed. It was not clear if the governor was home at the time.

A contingent of about a dozen Providence and state police officers were on scene.

Protesters handed out slips of paper listing their demands. The organizations PROVX, Tenant Network RI and the Providence chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America were cited at the bottom of the sheet.

The groups want to see 70% of all Providence Police Department funding reallocated in this fiscal year’s budget and the department’s workforce reduced by 70%. They also demand that the $61.6 million that would be diverted from the Police Department through the 70% reallocation be invested in other services, including affordable housing, education, health care, mental health, rent relief and small-business stimulus programs in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

After a few hours of protesting, one person arrived with pans of homemade food — chicken wings and rice — and helped serve the protesters who were holding the line in front of the governor’s house.

Protesters also demonstrated in front of Raimondo’s house last month, but police dispersed them after about 20 minutes.

Activists have protested continuously in Providence since the killing of George Floyd in May to call on city and state leaders to defund police departments. In some cases, protesters have taken their demands directly to the doors of political leaders.

Late last month, Providence City Councilman John Igliozzi’s home was vandalized by people demanding that he work to defund the police, but it was unclear who was behind the action.

mlist@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7121

On Twitter:@madeleine_list