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“I hear you…I’m listening to you…”
More than 10,000 people protested under the Black Lives Matter mantra last night in downtown Providence, that was the estimate of officials on the scene who said this was the largest event they had ever seen in their careers. Beginning in Kennedy Plaza, walking to the RI State House, then by the Providence Place Mall, City Hall, and up Broadway, there weren’t many areas without at least small groups of protestors delivering their message, for the most part, peacefully.
Curfews were put into place late in the day when it was determined the numbers of people planning to come out. In the early evening families could be seen peacefully attending. Only when curfew approached did tensions rise.
RI State police and RI National Guard phalanxed the RI State House steps and tensions rose. While most of the thousands had dissipated into other areas of downtown, a solid few hundred remained intent on pushing a confrontation with law enforcement.
As tensions rose to a breaking point, Governor Raimondo came out onto the steps of the State House. She was accompanied by her husband and security was tight around her.
The Governor asked the protestors to stay peaceful, to leave the area and mind the curfew. Her mantra was “I hear you…I am listening to you…I hear your pain…I will work with you for change…”. At one point she added, “I am begging you to stay peaceful”. With no mask, huddled tight with those around her, sweaty, intense, and serious. She even started to pray over the microphone given to her. Eventually she went back into the State House, having done all she could.
Unlike some of Raimondo’s more progressive Governors, she made it clear earlier in the day that she does not support dismantling the police or defunding them. She actually called for more funding for training. She also didn’t hesitate to call in and then keep National Guard troops in the state – “until I no longer need them”.
What happened next was a testimony to police and demonstration leaders alike. Police, trained to do the truly hard part of law enforcement, maintaining order peacefully and engaging with the groups. Some officers knelt, others talked with leaders, even inviting them up to a microphone to see if they could get control of the situation. They walked with the crowd, engaging, talking, but always firmly setting the rules and holding the line over which chaos would be not allowed.
For those who didn’t attend, members of the media, photographers and videographers, kept documenting the happenings – walking what had to be miles, keeping calm under duress, providing factual accounts, interviews, and photos of what was happening. Those who documented all of this in such calm, professional ways deserve all our gratitude – from very young reporters to veterans.
At early morning hours, seven arrests were known to have been made, and no destruction at this time was reported in the city.
Today there are protests planned in the East Bay – Bristol, Warren, and Colt State Park. And in Newport. Protests are planned throughout the world.