Protesters bring seven coffins to PVDFest to bring attention to deaths in Rhode Island prisons

"The reason for us being here is that this year, seven incarcerated people died... Four of them committed suicide after being in segregation for long periods."

Seven people have died this year in Rhode Island's prisons, two in the last month, and four by suicide. There has been no external investigation into these deaths, so the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) and the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers (RIBCO) are free to conduct business as usual.

Public officials are not reacting to the crisis, and families of people incarcerated at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) in Cranston, with the support of their community and Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE) and several other groups including the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), are escalating their calls for accountability and safety. They brought their protest to PVDFest, Providence's annual cultural event.

On Friday, as Providence Mayor Brett Smiley hosted his private, ticketed PVDFest Opening Night Party at the CIC Building on Dyer Street, over 60 people carried signs, flowers, and seven wooden coffins from South Water Street, over the Michael Van Leesten Memorial Bridge, and arrived outside the CIC building.

There, they arranged the coffins and chanted, hoping to catch the attention of the people inside the party.

The march was led by two people holding a banner that said, “This is the sound of people pounding on the doors for help at the ACI." A loudspeaker accompanied the marchers, playing the sounds of incarcerated people banging on cell doors and crying out for help.

In no time at all the protest drew the attention of the Providence Police Department. Police officers shadowed the front and rear of the march and several times attempted to prevent the marchers from going where they wished.

After setting up the coffins in the park across from the CIC building, Joe Benton, a minister and musician, led the group in prayer.

"The reason for us being here is that this year, seven incarcerated people died. In the last two months, two died. We are concerned that there is no internal or external investigation into the death of these men," said Pastor Benton. "Four of them committed suicide after being in segregation for long periods.

"So right now we want [Governor] Dan McKee to respond to the bodies that are before us."

Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee was not taking part in any of the events around the opening of PVDFest on Friday night.

"When is enough enough? asked Brandon Robinson, who leads the state's Stop Torture Colation, which has worked to reform solitary confinement in Rhode Island's prison system. Recently, in response to mediation arising out of pending federal litigation challenging RIDOC’s use of solitary confinement on individuals at the ACI – including, among other practices, keeping some prisoners in lockdown for 22 to 24 hours a day for periods of a year or longer – significant changes have been made to the Department’s policies.

"When are they going to start following the policies that were passed for solitary confinement?" asked Robinson. "You can't trust the Correctional Officers. They want to change their stories and twist the narrative. So we're out here tonight to let the truth be heard."

The march made its way towards the stage, where a musical performance was taking place From the stage, the artist noted the protest and offered his support.

"We the people of the State of Rhode Island will not continue to stand aside and not speak up against injustice within our community," said the performer. "It is critical to hold those responsible for the deaths that are happening to incarcerated folks that are held responsible. We have to speak up. You all must speak up."

There were cheers and support from the audience.

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Inside the event, Mayor Smiley was targeted by protesters who wanted to know why incarcerated people have been dying inside the ACI. [Video courtesy of Coalition Radio]

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley: Thank you to all the sponsors, again, whose help made this possible. And...

Andira Alves: Yo, Smiley! Do you know that there have been seven deaths at the ACI this year, and you haven't responded to any of them?

We didn't want to come here today, but we've been organizing for months, if not years, but particularly these last few months with people behind the walls. Instead, you have the media, state resources, and attention put into PVDFest instead of our people, Rhode Islanders, who are dying under your watch. These are your constituents. And business should not continue as usual until there's full transparency and investigation. And we mean an open external independent investigation into RIDOOC and the Correctional Officers Union. Meaning that we don't want the state police. We don't want police investigating each other. We want justice. So no more police investigating their own.

I'm also here today on behalf of one of the seven people who were killed, Derek Ashworth, and his family. Derek died of a heart attack because he was denied his blood pressure medication and complaining and complaining of chest pains. Derek was a person. He was a father, a grandfather. He was a community member and he would've been granted paroles a few weeks after his death. But instead of being with his family and planning for his wedding, Derek has passed. So are you going to do the right thing? Are you going to demand that there's going to be an external independent investigation?

Brett Smiley: So as you know ...

Andira Alves: It's a yes or a no. Are you going to demand? It's right and wrong. Are you going to do the right thing?

Brett Smiley: I certainly think that anybody who dies at the ACI deserves to have that death investigated. As you know, the...

Andira Alves: There's been seven [deaths]. There hasn't been one investigation.

Brett Smiley: That's not okay. But the City of Providence does not run the prison system in the state of Rhode Island, but

Andira Alves: You have power. People in this room have power. You can talk to Governor McKee so it's not pointing fingers at who who...

Brett Smiley: And I don't take that as such, and I appreciate your addressing this I do.

Andira Alves: So do you support an independent investigation?

Brett Smiley: I support investigating any death at the ACI...

Andira Alves: You support an independent investigation?

Brett Smiley: Again, I don't know the details.

Andira Alves: Do you support independent, third-party investigating?

Brett Smiley: I'd be happy to learn more about this issue from you afterward. I'm not going anywhere.

Andira Alves: There's been seven deaths since the beginning of the year and you haven't once looked into them, right?

Brett Smiley: I don't run the prisons in the State of Rhode Island. The city of Providence doesn't run a prison, and these deaths sound like they deserve...

Andira Alves: They're your constituents though, so you should advocate on their behalf…

Brett Smiley: And I'm happy to learn more about what it is that you're asking us to do. And I'd be happy to talk to you after the speaking program open

Andira Alves: An independent external investigation.

Brett Smiley: Again, that would have to be a state investigation, but I'm happy to talk to you more about, learn about the issue...

Andira Alves: Are you going to announce it publicly?

Brett Smiley: I'd like to learn more about the issue and I'd love to talk to you about it after the speaking program.

Andira Alves: Are you going to do the right thing?

Brett Smiley: Well, again, like I said, I think any death at the ACI deserves to be investigated. You're asking me if I would support an investigation. I'm happy to talk more about it. The state runs the prison system. The City of Providence does not. And I appreciate your advocacy. I do.

Mayor Smiley continued with his presentation, noting that there were several members of the Providence City Council in the room as well as the winner of the Democratic Primary race for Congressional District One, Gabe Amo. Then he was interrupted again, and the police got involved.

Protester: I'm here on behalf of Brian Medina, who committed suicide at the ACI this year after being held in solidarity confinement. I am here as a formerly incarcerated individual who was involved in solidarity confinement as well because I lost family members. This person has experienced firsthand cruelty, torture, and harassment by the Correctional Officers, as well as racism and abuse at the ACI at the hands of correctional officers. I would like to know what you plan on doing, as well as speaking to the government. I need you to end up doing it in the investigation

Police Officer: Excuse me, Sir, this is a private event.

Protester: I know. I have a ticket.

Andira Alves: He’s got a ticket.

The situation devolved into crosstalk. Mayor Smiley turned the proceedings over to Joe Wilson, Jr., the Director of the Office of Art, Culture, and Tourism, and took the protesters into the hallway to discuss their issues with them.

After speaking with the Mayor privately, the protesters exited the CIC building and joined the protesters outside. From there they marched back over the Van Leeston Bridge, ending the event with chants of, "We'll be back!"