Raimondo Apologizes For Not Wearing Mask At Protest

PROVIDENCE, RI — Gov. Gina Raimondo said Monday she regrets not wearing a face mask when she arrived at a protest at the State House Friday night, saying it was a split-second decision made to address an "urgent" situation.

"It was clearly a mistake on my part," Raimondo said. "I shouldn't have done it."

The governor said she supported the protest but did not actively participate in it because it was "in clear violation" of the phase two gathering limits of 15 people or fewer. However, she felt compelled to go when things started to get tense after 9 p.m., she said.

"In that moment of urgency, I forgot," she said, explaining that she left her house in a rush with her husband in an effort to de-escalate the situation before it became violent. "I am extremely careful. The fact that I didn't in that split second ... I felt that it was an emergency."

As part of the state's effort to ramp up testing in certain symptomatic members of the community, Raimondo encouraged anyone who attended a protest over the weekend to get tested for COVID-19 by calling the Rhode Island Department of Health at 401-222-8022 or on the department's website.

The governor said she is "very proud of the people of Rhode Island" for holding a series of protests over the weekend in the name of racial justice. Approximately 20,000 people attended those gatherings, 10,000 of whom showed up in Providence Friday night. Although she could not condone the large gatherings of people during the coronavirus pandemic, she said she supports people speaking up for their First Amendment rights.

"The protests were in clear violation of the gathering [limit,]" Raimondo said.

She went on to address the calls from the community to allow weddings and other large gatherings, saying it is "only fair" that everyone should be allowed to hold events if large groups of protesters can gather.

"I don't think it's fair to compare a wedding to these protests at a time of national unrest," she said.

Patch editor Scott Souza contributed to this report.

Read more:

• Peaceful Protests Held Across Rhode Island Over The Weekend
• RI Donut Shop Sparks Controversy After Ending Police Discount
• 'Keep It Peaceful Tonight,' Raimondo Pleads To Protesters
  
• Cranston Mayor Reinstates Overnight Curfew
• Aquidneck Island Prepares For Weekend Protests
• 'Unequivocally, Black Lives Matter': Raimondo
• Rhode Island Works To Make Protests Safer From Coronavirus