'A Sad Day For Downtown': Providence Cleans Up Following Violence

PROVIDENCE, RI — A night of violence in Providence left windows broken and stores looted throughout downtown. Business owners, many of whom just reopened their stores after coronavirus restrictions were lifted, are now left to pick up the pieces.

Westminster Street in the heart of downtown was one of the hardest-hit. Shattered glass lined the street Tuesday morning as a small army of volunteers, employees and city workers worked to clear sidewalks and board up windows.

Adam Buck, one of the owners of Small Point Café on Westminster Street, said his business was spared.

"It's a sad day for downtown," he said.

Unlike others surrounding him, Buck's business had no damage. While some might see this as a stroke of luck, he said this shows that the violence was calculated and targeted. The stores that were looted and had the most damage were those whose merchandise has high resale value, he said, such as sneaker and skateboard shops. Meanwhile, those that were not "worth" looting — such as the cafe and the vintage store down the street — saw little to no damage.

Buck said the violence comes at an especially hard time for downtown Providence, which is slowly beginning the reopening process after months of coronavirus-related closures. He attended the peaceful protest at the State House Saturday, he said, and was struck by the stark difference. While Monday night was marked by anger and violence, Saturday was "emotional, but without violent anger," he said.

Ben Sukle, the owner of the nearby restaurant Oberlin said even though his business was damaged, "it's nothing worth getting angry about."

One of the restaurant's windows was broken and several bottles of wine were stolen, he said, but he and his employees were not on premises and anything of value was out of the building or in the basement.

"This could be spun as 'why hit us while we're down [from the coronavirus pandemic]?' but it's really separate cases," Sukle said.

Late Monday night, hundreds of protestors flooded the streets of Providence, gathering first at the Providence Place Mall before fanning out throughout downtown. According to Providence Police Commissioner Steven Pare, 75 to 100 made it into the mall, "overwhelming" and outnumbering posted officers. More than a dozen stores inside the mall were looted, and approximately 70 people were arrested by the end of the night.

"They came here to blow up the Providence Place Mall," Gov. Gina Raimondo said. "They came here to torch the State House. They came here to destroy much of the city of Providence. And it didn't happen. Because we were prepared."

Officers were called in from several surrounding communities, as well as approximately 60 members of the Rhode Island State Police and several Massachusetts state troopers. On Tuesday, the governor mobilized the Rhode Island National Guard to assist in the safety efforts.

"We going to significantly enhance our security presence throughout the state," she said. "Yes, there was looting and there was damage. But it was because we were ready that we limit the amount of damage that was done. ... We know there is likely to be a big demonstration on Friday. In the days between now and then we're going to amp it up. ... We were on high alert, and now we're on higher alert."

Read more:

• Raimondo: Providence Violence Not 'Who We Are As Rhode Islanders'
  
• Overnight Curfews In Place In Cranston, Providence
  
• RI Leaders Say Protest-Related Coronavirus Spike Possible