Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Providence’s CBS affiliate reports:
A Providence police officer and political candidate has been placed on administrative leave after he reportedly assaulted a woman outside the Rhode Island State House Friday night.
The Providence Police Department has confirmed that officer Jeann Lugo, a Republican who is running for state Senate, was placed on paid leave Saturday morning. Lugo, according to police, is a three-year veteran of the force and was off duty at the time.
Rhode Island Political Cooperative co-founder Jennifer Rourke, one of Lugo’s Democratic opponents, claims he violently attacked her amidst a brawl that broke out on Smith Hill, as hundreds of people gathered to condemn the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The Huffington Post reports:
Journalist Bill Bartholomew posted video from a Friday night rally on the Rhode Island State House steps showing what appeared to be Lugo attacking Jennifer Rourke, one of Lugo’s Democratic opponents for the state Senate spot.
Rourke, a reproductive rights activist, was also one of the people who organized the Friday night rally in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
“This is what it is to be a Black woman running for office,” Rourke wrote in a post sharing the video on social media. “I won’t give up.”
I’m a reproductive rights organizer & State Senate candidate. Last night, after speaking at our Roe rally, my Republican opponent – a police officer – violently attacked me.
This is what it is to be a Black woman running for office. I won’t give up.pic.twitter.com/ZREDP2dvXY
— Jennifer Rourke (@JenRourke29) June 25, 2022
Rally organizer and R.I. Political Cooperative co-founder Jennifer Rourke was attempting to deescalate a conflict when Jeann Lugo, her Republican opponent for R.I. Senate District 29, allegedly began punching her in the face. https://t.co/hNLkiZOz0K
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) June 25, 2022
I am hearing from multiple politicians that the overturning of Roe v Wade is an "assault on Democracy." This ruling by the Supreme Court does not remove the ability to have an abortion in the USA. All it does is give the right to the states to decide for themselves, nothing more.
— Jeann Lugo (@JeannCLugo) June 24, 2022
“Rhode Island Political Cooperative Chairwoman Jennifer Rourke, who spoke at the protest, said she was punched in the face at least twice by her challenger in the state Senate District 29 race, Jeann Lugo. He was not the man arrested.” https://t.co/9IZgiRHkos
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 25, 2022
The tweet was deleted but it appears that Providence Police Officer Jeann Lugo has ended his campaign for state senate following last night’s incident. pic.twitter.com/nbf0LTr3qo
— Alex Malm (@alex_malm1) June 25, 2022
Jeann Lugo deactivated his account, but his last tweet read that he “will not be running for any office this fall” pic.twitter.com/ED8b9eDcd5
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) June 25, 2022
Amazing turnout! pic.twitter.com/cmPXtVAn2O
— Jeann Lugo (@JeannCLugo) June 19, 2022