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As histories of police violence have come under greater scrutiny, I wanted to make sure to collect and publicize stories of police violence and malpractice in my city, Providence, RI. I welcome additions to this thread, which is far from exhaustive.
In 2017, police officers fired over 20 rounds into a truck. They had been chasing someone who had stolen a police car, and in the midst of the pursuit killed one person and wounded another, neither of whom were related to the original chase. https://upriseri.com/2017-11-09-a-murder-by-police-in-rhode-island/
Last fall, narcotics detectives went undercover as addicts combatting withdrawal at PVD's public bus plaza to entrap actual recovering addicts into illicitly selling them small doses of Suboxone. They arrested 23 people for transactions as small as $5. https://theappeal.org/undercover-providence-police-faked-withdrawal-symptoms-and-solicited-suboxone-from-people-with-prescriptions/
Providence police kept a "gang database" with arbitrary criteria for identifying gang members (including speech protected under the First Amendment), which has been used to harass and intimidate young people of color. https://theappeal.org/rhode-island-police-gang-database/
3 years ago today, after years of campaigning, grassroots community groups PrYSM and DARE won the passage of the Community Safety Act, a police reform bill sabotaged by the police union months earlier. The city has still not taken it seriously enough. https://upriseri.com/2019-06-26-pera/
Police thankfully refrained from spectacular violence at Sat.'s protest. It is crucial to identify past & ongoing violences that are less visible. Thanks to @upriseri and Julia Rock & Harry August @theappeal, who cover police in Providence with conviction and courage.
Also, as public space and public services get privatized, it is worth noting the 2015 incident in which someone accused of shoplifting at Providence Place Mall fell 25 feet to their death while being chased by mall security. https://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150717/NEWS/150719339
