Homeless advocates meet with Mayor Elorza to discuss police harassment
Today a group of homeless people and community organizers met with Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza to discuss continued harassment from the police. The meeting followed a march that started at Burnside Park, where 40 people gathered to demonstrate solidarity with the homeless community. The Homeless Bill of Rights...
Today a group of homeless people and community organizers met with Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza to discuss continued harassment from the police. The meeting followed a march that started at Burnside Park, where 40 people gathered to demonstrate solidarity with the homeless community.
The Homeless Bill of Rights Defense Committee arranged the meeting to show Mayor Elorza videos of police harassing panhandlers at bus shelters. Barbara Freitas, director of the Rhode Island Homeless Advocacy Project, said that Mayor Elorza seemed committed to working on this issue.
“I think he was pretty receptive to listening and that’s what he needed to do, he needed to sit there and listen to people’s complaints and that they’re very upset with the cops, they’re upset with what’s going on,” she said.
According to Freitas, Mayor Elorza said that he would address panhandling and harassment with the Commissioner of Public Safety and the police chief to make sure rank-and-file officers are clear on policies regarding panhandlers.