Protesters gathered outside RI Hospital in support of a Providence man tasered and detained by ICE
"We asked to speak with him," said the man's lawyer. "That was denied, apparently by ICE. My only concern is that he be granted his right to due process."
Around 150 people staged a protest outside Rhode Island Hospital Thursday afternoon in response to a Providence man who, in the process of being detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was reportedly tasered and required medical attention. The protest lasted around two hours and peacefully dispersed after ICE agents took the man from the hospital and carted him away - likely to a detention facility.
Members of the Deportation Defense Coalition of Rhode Island, a joint effort of AMOR (Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance), the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and the Olneyville Neighborhood Association (ONA) organized the protest.
Here’s some video:
The protest was sparked by a report to the Deportation Defense Line (401-675-1414) after neighbors saw ICE agents in their neighborhood. “Whenever people call about ICE’s presence in the community, we send folks out and mobilize. That’s what happened today in this case,” said Sophia Wright, Communications Director for AMOR. “People in the neighborhood saw one of the agents detaining the man use a taser. That’s the reason this man is in the hospital: ICE used violence to detain him. Our community members saw it happening.” People mobilized at the scene, a neighborhood in the West End. After the man was taken to Rhode Island Hospital by a Providence Rescue, “people mobilized to demand that he be given access to his attorney,” said Wright.
“Right now, immigration authorities are preventing the person from accessing their lawyer or any type of representation,” said Wright.
A person who claimed to be a witness told me that the detained man was taken off the street by ICE agents after he dropped his child off at school.
Attorney Kelvin Santos confirmed that access to his client was denied.
“I got a call through a network of attorneys trying to help out people in these situations,” said Santos. “He signed a representation form, which makes it a little strange that we’re not allowed to talk to him directly. We spoke with the hospital’s general counsel, the head of security, and, I believe, a social worker. We asked to speak with him. That was denied, apparently by ICE.
“We’re trying to figure out exactly what’s happening with him. I’ve had previous clients getting moved all over the place unexpectedly. You’ll have a bond hearing one day, and then they get moved to New Mexico the day before without notice. I don’t know this gentleman particularly well. I don’t know exactly what he’s accused of. My only concern is that he be granted his right to due process. Given the current climate, with everything going on in the country… Regardless of his actions, he’s entitled to due process. That’s my only concern right now.”
“How do you feel about these people gathering?” asked a reporter.
“It’s important that people can exercise their First Amendment rights,” said Santos. “I won’t get into the substance of what they’re protesting. I don’t know them. I’m not affiliated with them, but I respect what they’re doing. I respect their willingness, ability, and bravery in coming out here and making their voices heard. Right now, because of what’s been going on, that’s impressive.”
June Rose, Chief of Staff for the Providence City Council, represented Council President Rachel Miller outside the hospital.
“She wishes she could be here,” said Rose. “She’s unfortunately out of town dealing with a family emergency. I’m representing her because this morning, a member of our community was taken off the streets of a neighborhood, Federal Hill in the West End, that was built on immigration. We love these neighborhoods because of the diversity they’ve brought to our city for generations. Anyone who grew up in Providence knows those neighborhoods are rich and wonderful, and drivers of our entire community, because of immigrants.
“The idea that ICE would come to our community, representing Donald Trump’s fascist administration and disappear our community members off the street is infuriating and heartbreaking,” said Rose. “We have to remember the humanity of the people on the other side of these incidents. These are our neighbors, parents, and family members. These are our community members. They deserve the same respect, rights, and dignity as anyone else in our country of immigrants - in our city of immigrants.”
“ICE has committed violence against this person by coming to their home and detaining them. Right now, they’ve as good as kidnapped this man,” said Sophia Wright. “That’s why we’re here, because the community doesn’t want to put up with this in Rhode Island. ICE officers shouldn’t be coming to people’s homes, committing violence, and bringing them to places like Rhode Island Hospital, where they have to heal before being detained by an abusive ICE detention center like Wyatt in Central Falls.”
ICE DETAINS AND TASES RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY MEMBER, DENIES LEGAL RIGHT TO COUNSEL – PROTEST FORMS OUTSIDE RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
TODAY (THURSDAY, APRIL 24TH) AT 4:00PM
RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL ANDERSON EMERGENCY CENTER
Today at 11:08AM, the Rhode Island Deportation Defense Coalition received a call reporting that a community member was being detained by ICE agents and the Providence Police in unmarked cars at his home in Providence.
Agents assaulted and tased the man so badly that he had to be taken to Rhode Island Hospital. The Deportation Defense Coalition immediately dispatched community verifiers and then alerted the public. Within minutes, a crowd had formed outside the Anderson Emergency Center.
ICE, the Providence Police, and the Rhode Island Hospital administration blocked the community member’s lawyers from being able to speak with him, a clear denial of his constitutional rights.
Dozens of protesters rallied and chanted outside the hospital for more than three hours, chanting “Money for jobs and education, not for war and deportation!” Unmarked vans being driven by officers from the Wyatt Detention center waited outside the hospital, apparently to take the community member as soon as he was discharged.
Kate Hao of the Deportation Defense Coalition stated, “This is a shameful example of ICE not only trying to circumvent legal and constitutional protections in their war against immigrants, but ignoring the will of the people. Because of the protest and community members who called in to DHS Enforcement and Removal Operations, ICE was forced to smuggle our community member out of the hospital through a side entrance.
“We urge everyone across Rhode Island to march with us against deportations this coming Sunday, April 27th, at 12PM at the Federal Building in Providence.
“Now is the time for us to show ICE that we are stronger together, and that if we continue to resist, we can stop this racist wave of deportations.”
Statement from Lt. Governor Sabina Matos
PROVIDENCE, RI — Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos today offered the following statement:
“My office and I are closely monitoring reports that ICE agents may be refusing a Rhode Islander their right to due process by preventing them from speaking with their lawyer.
We are still learning all of the facts involved in today’s events, and I cannot speak with certainty about every detail of this incident. However, there are no circumstances under which we can tolerate the erosion of the Constitution. If this man is being prevented from speaking with his attorney, then I call on ICE to immediately to allow him access to counsel.
The rights enshrined in our Constitution, especially the right to due process, are our only safeguard against authoritarianism. If we do not immediately and vocally protect the first people to be stripped of those rights, then eventually all people will be stripped of those rights.”