Narragansett Withdraws Proposal To Ignore Coronavirus Orders

NARRAGANSETT, RI — Town Council President Matthew Mannix withdrew his proposal to direct the town's police department not to enforce Gov. Gina Raimondo's executive orders relating to the coronavirus. At Monday's virtual Town Council meeting, Mannix said he did not want to waste time debating a resolution that he knew would fail.

"I know that three of my colleagues have already said on WPRO that they will not support the measure," Mannix said.

Mannix said he introduced the resolution "not out of selfishness," but rather to address the mental and emotional toll the pandemic and forced distancing has taken on residents, calling them just as serious, if not more so, than the virus itself. He cited the ban on religious gatherings, funerals and the ability to gather with dying loved ones, saying it was an undue burden on residents and causing heartache to all involved. Mannix also compared the resolution to similar ones passed in Rhode Island towns concerning contentious issues such as gun control and immigration status, instructing police departments not to enforce these laws.

While social distancing, mask and cleaning protocols are all beneficial, Mannix argued, they should be more a matter of personal responsibility than a mandate from the state. If passed, the resolution would have allowed stores and other private businesses to enforce these requirements at their own discretion.

More than 400 members of the public called in, according to comments made at the beginning of the meeting. Following Mannix's withdrawal, many expressed their anger in the Zoom's chat feature, saying they deserved to have the right to speak their opinions on the measure.

"You're destroying thousands of lives," one member of the public, Kristen Lynch-Couture, wrote in the public chat. "I really hope everyone votes them all out. They should be ashamed of themselves."

While many comments were in favor of the measure, some supported the withdrawal, saying the executive orders are in the best interest of Rhode Islanders' health.

"I am grateful that [the resolution] was dismissed," wrote Jennifer Armstrong. "I hoped it would have been for reasonings that would have supports the Town Council's Mission statement of respect and integrity and the police duty to 'promote a feeling of safety and security for all members of our community.' There should be utmost respect for all who serve our community. There should be the utmost respect for scientific data of researchers to keep us safe. Concerned residents like myself weren't intending to make a plea for ourselves, we were looking for you to hear our voice and walk forward in a collected vision together based upon what is promised in the mission statement you stand for."

When asked about the resolution Friday, Gov. Raimondo called it "reckless."

"That's a huge mistake," she said. "We're trying to encourage voluntary compliance. It's so selfish to the people of Rhode Island who put their lives of hold."