Sgt. Joseph Hanley, a veteran police officer, was accused of assaulting a man he arrested on Tell Street in April 2020, just one month into a global pandemic. Video evidence shows Hanley kicking and punching Rishod Gore, kneeling on his neck area, and standing on his calves. Despite concerns expressed by residents and community advocates, the Rhode Island Superior Court accepted a plea agreement resulting in Hanley receiving only one year of probation, which Black Lives Matter RI PAC (BLM RI PAC) considers a miscarriage of justice.
BLM RI PAC is calling for the termination of Hanley without severance or other compensatory benefits within the next 30 days, urging the Providence Police Department and Mayor Brett Smiley to take action. They also criticize the Rhode Island House of Representatives and State Senate for failing to repeal the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights (LEOBOR), which they believe has contributed to the lack of accountability in this case.
BLM RI PAC is a political action committee created by young people of color in Rhode Island, aiming to increase representation of people of color in government. They support and seek to elect young people and people of color to various offices in the state to better serve the interests of all Rhode Islanders.
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