Vigil in memory of Willie Washington Jr. at Rhode Island State House
Willie Washington Jr. is the 25-year-old man who tragically lost his life at the ACI earlier this month.
From a Stop Torture RI press release:
Family members of Willie Washington Jr. and community members gathered outside the Rhode Island State House on Thursday for a solemn vigil and protest to honor the life of the 25-year-old man who tragically lost his life while in the custody of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) earlier this month.
“We don’t want our son’s murder to be in vain,” said the Washington/Jones family in a statement. “We want the community to come together to help our family receive justice for Willie. We understand there is nothing we can do to bring our son back, but we also understand we have the responsibility to do whatever we can to ensure no other family loses their loved one due to medical negligence at the hands of the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI). We’re calling on the community to reach out to your local legislators and ask them to pass the “Wille Washington, Jr., Prison Medical Reform Bill” as soon as they receive it. This bill will not only bring justice to our family but will bring justice to all families.”
According to witnesses, Mr. Washington experienced ongoing and serious symptoms, including pain throughout his body, vomiting, and an inability to walk for days before his death. A medical emergency was called three times in 72 hours but despite his symptoms, witnesses say he was not seen by a doctor or provided any medical care aside from over-the-counter painkillers - until the third call when it was too late. RIDOC has indicated they are investigating Washington’s death.
Medical care inside the ACI is not sufficient. There were three suicides within the ACI in three months last year and another individual, Dion Nalls, died in the intake facility last weekend. In addition, there is a recent, ongoing lawsuit in Federal court alleging medical neglect against two individuals. According to the judge in that case the litigants had produced evidence that, if believed by a jury, indicated “a pattern of unresponsiveness and denial of basic treatment, even in the face of specific recommendations from diagnosing physicians.”
“We pray that no one else’s family has to go through such pain and despair,” said Valentina Marianetti, whose nephew Brian Rodenas died in the ACI after spending months in solitary confinement last year. “Change needs to come and it needs to come sooner rather than later. We are all humans capable of performing the worst acts under the right circumstances.”
“I can still hear the words from the detectives who were investigating the abuse that she endured like it was yesterday,” said Elisah Liberty, whose sister died after being tortured in the ACI several years ago and who was the named litigant in the lawsuit Liberty vs. the DOC.
Organizers are calling for:
Transparency and Accountability: We call upon the RIDOC to provide a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Willie Washington Jr. and Dion Nalls. Families deserve to know the truth about what happened to their loved ones while in state custody.
Medical Oversight Bill: We propose the introduction of a comprehensive bill that establishes mandatory medical oversight for all correctional facilities, including the ACI. This commission will consist of medical professionals, legal experts, and community representatives. This board would oversee investigations into inmate deaths, assess the quality of medical care, and recommend necessary policy changes. This bill would ensure that individuals in prison receive proper medical care, mental health support, and timely interventions. No one should suffer preventable harm or loss of life due to inadequate medical attention.
“We have been calling for reforms to the abuses and neglect within the prison for years, including the lack of medical care and the abuses within solitary confinement,” said Brandon Robinson, the Stop Torture RI Campaign Manager. “We must pass legislation before any more individuals die.”
