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« New Bedford man accused of assault in baby's death | Today | Gas prices drop again in Rhode Island » August 14, 2007Update: Injury at protest spurs probe, demonstration
That image emerged from Saturday's demonstration outside Jacky's Galaxie restaurant in North Providence in which the union and North Providence police scuffled. The union -- the International Workers of the World -- said the restaurant does business with Dragon Land Trading, a New York-based restaurant supplier that the union says has violated labor laws. See freelance photos of Saturday's protest, posted here. The restaurant's owner said Monday that he had ceased doing business with the supplier targeted by the marchers. Officials said today the police department is doing an internal investigation into the conduct of officers at the demonstration. Deputy Police Chief Paul Marino denied allegations of police brutality. As part of the investigation, police are asking businesses with outdoor security cameras near the demonstration site to give police their tapes. Police are making a similar request to the state Department of Transportation, which has a traffic camera at the intersection where the protesters staged. The mayor met with police officials this afternoon. Those attending what they called a vigil at the hospital this afternoon said they hand-delivered this morning a letter to the state attorney general asking for an investigation, according to Jason Tompkins, a member of Industrial Workers of the World. They have set a deadline for noon on Thursday for a response form the attorney general. If there is no response, they will demonstrate at the attorney general's office that afternoon at 4. Mark Bray, another spokesman for IWW, said the organization has been served with a temporary restraining order prohibiting them from picketing at any of the five Jacky's Galaxie locations in the state and that there is a hearing on the restraining order Thursday in Superior Courr. As the vigil began, Svoboda's parents were outside the hospital for a time while their daughter was undergoing her second surgery, this one to repair a severed vein at the back of the knee. Scott Svoboda, Alexandra's father, flew in from Nebraska and said earlier today that his daughter is doing “as well as can be expected.” His daughter has been listed as in “good” condition in the Intensive Care Unit. -- projo.com staff writers Michael P. McKinney and Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writers Gina Macris and Richard C. Dujardin Alexandra had already had one operation to reattach a detached fibula (calf bone), and will be having another to reattach severed arteries and relieve pressure from accumulating fluids, Scott said. Alexandra's mother, Jan Enstrom, said the first surgery havrested a vein from Alexandra's foot to repair the artery and it saved the leg. She said the second operation is to increase the blood flow to the lower leg and to make sure she wil have use of the leg. "I’m amazed at the support and the rallying around this incident for Alex," Scott Svoboda said. He said this afternoon that said there are two FBI agents and a deputy sheriff in the extended family -- that's espeiclaly why his daughter knows not to resist police. "She’s a very passive individual, not the type that would strike out at a police officer ... she respects law, and respects her right to protest," he said earlier today. He added, "I respect her right to protest as well." Svoboda said his daughter called from the hospital on Sunday, after her first surgery “with just enough information to scare the living daylights out of me.” In a statement, the IWW says police told the protesters to move to the sidewalk. After first ignoring the order, the protesters began to move. As they did, police surrounded them and began making arrests. Svoboda and her friend, Jason Friedmutter, were arrested. She faces charges of assaulting an officer, disturbing the peace and resisting arrest. Friedmutter was released shortly after his arrest, according to Mike Brey, spokesman for the IWW, and faces minor charges. A spokesman for the Industrial Workers of the World says the labor union will be meeting with attorneys Thursday to discuss what action the group will take. “I can’t comment on what we have in store, but we will be filing complaints and trying to gain compensation for Alex and for her injuries,” Brey said. Brey said the union is planning an anti-police brutality rally in North Providence on Aug. 26. He said he was shocked at what he saw Saturday. “Many of us have been to larger protests, and even with riot police, none of us had ever seen an injury like (Svoboda’s) in our entire lives,” he said. Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsLaurie | August 14, 2007 11:21 PM link I lived next door to the Svobodas in Lincoln for several years, and I have met and talked with Alex several times since. I have always been struck by her gentle spirit. Compare this slip of a woman with the size of the police officers pictured - I try to imagine her posing any kind of a threat to police, and I just can't. Get well soon Alex! David Bagby | August 14, 2007 11:37 PM link I have been regularly participating in demonstrations like this one and much larger ones since I was 14 and I am still shocked at the actions of the police. Their horrific behavior at this demonstration should clearly illustrate to people the danger of having armed individuals roaming our streets with impunity. I have watched large crowds of police attack people peacefully assembled, indiscriminately beating, tasering, arresting, and shooting crowds. How is it that people think it is acceptable for anyone to have the power to attack and maim other people without any repercussions? Worst of all, how can we allow a system to continue that brutalizes people attempting to advocate for their basic rights and then BLAMES the victims by giving them charges? Police brutality is the symptom of a sick society. Eric | August 14, 2007 11:41 PM link Voicing ones opinion and excercising the right to civily protest is in and of itself not a bad thing! The key word here is civil, When police officers are surrounded by an obviuosly angry group of individuals, who are not obeying lawful requests by the police then quite frankly all bets are off. You take your chances that you might get arrested and in turn if you resist you take the chance you might get hurt. This is life, this is real life not the sheltered life on a college capmus where the condone these types of actions and do not support their police. So quite frankly, I have no sympathy for anyone who may have inadvertantly been injured. Next time pay attention and do what you're told...sounds like advice you may have gotten from your parents....apparently you didn't listen to them either! Lyn | August 19, 2007 7:22 AM link Lyn - I think your views here are rather extreme. It is obvious by the image of this protester that this is a case of police over-reaction. Whenever these cases arise (and we see much evidence of US police over-reacion here in the UK) the police are bound to lose the respect of more citizens. Your response - "I have no sympathy ..." makes me fear for what kind of human being you are. observer | September 25, 2007 2:44 PM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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Oct 2005 - March 2006
The cops will be found innocent as usual. They will do an investigation and find that they "feared for their lives" and were forced to use "force". I always taught my kids to respect and obey the law and all people.. but I honestly believe that some cops are just not humane.. they are animals with no respect for anyone.