East Providence residents rally against hate and extremism
"I want our neighbors to know that everyone is welcome here - except for Nazis. We don’t respect them. They’re not welcome."
As the East Providence Police and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office decide on whether or not to bring hate crime charges against a 27-year-old resident of Lincoln, Rhode Island for ripping down and stomping on a Cape Verdean flag during a Cape Verdean Independence Celebration on Wednesday, several members of EPIC (East Providence in Community) gathered outside the City Hall to push back against hate in the community.
“We needed to counteract the incident that happened on Wednesday at City Hall, when someone who is not from our city expressed hate toward Cape Verdean and other people, and also possessed a Nazi flag,” said EPIC co-founder Susan Dunnington. “We don’t want that in our city. East Providence has many Cape Verdean people, whom we care for. They are our neighbors and community.
“We don’t want the only visual of East Providence to be someone who brings a Nazi flag to the city and stomps on the Cape Verdean flag,” continued Dunnington. “We would rather there were images showing people like me and my neighbors coming out and expressing our love for our neighbors. It doesn’t matter where they came from or who they are. We don’t want hate in our city.”
The suspect has been charged with vandalism, disorderly conduct, and possession of a knife.
“I don’t care what his thoughts were or what he was thinking,” said EPIC co-founder Libby Merrill. “I want our neighbors to know that everyone is welcome here - except for Nazis. We don’t respect them. They’re not welcome.”
“There is no room in this city for acts of hatred and vandalism,” said East Providence Mayor Robert DaSilva in a statement. “Our administration condemns all hateful acts and will continue to make it abundantly clear that East Providence is an inclusive community where hate is neither welcome nor tolerated.”
United States Representative Seth Magaziner condemned the crimes:
“I am deeply disturbed by the recent incident at the Cape Verdean Independence Celebration in East Providence, where a man carrying a Nazi flag and a knife tore down and vandalized American and Cape Verdean flags. As Ranking Member for Counterterrorism, Intelligence and Law Enforcement on the Committee for Homeland Security, I am aware that extremist violence continues to be a threat to the safety of people in all parts of our country.
“I stand in full solidarity with the Cape Verdean community as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Cape Verde’s independence.”
Proud that Aldersbridge Communities calls EP home
I love the sentiments on the signs.
EDIT BELOW: (not a true statement - data listed in follow up comment ) But more people voted for Fascism and the lead Nazi/WCN organizer (DJT) in East Providence than Kamala Harris.
You can’t call yourself a strong Democrat city that fights for ALL (even though I know that is BS - I’m looking at you Mayor and the police) AND have citizens that vote against their own interests.
The Portuguese first and second generation immigrant population has to look long and hard in the mirror on that vote!
They all go home to their beloved homeland which has strong socialist roots to visit family where the “good life is” and try to have it both ways! The cognitive dissonance is 🤯.