Black Lives Matter furious at the acquittal of an off-duty police officer after beating a woman; The police officer said she interfered with the arrest. Cop, Woman were also political rivals back then.

Black Lives Matter is furious over the acquittal of an off-duty Providence, Rhode Island police officer who beat a black woman during a protest in June following the coup Roe v. calf.

The officer said the woman physically hindered his attempt to arrest a man who was assaulting a journalist.

Oh, and the cop and the woman he hit? They were political rivals at the time of the incident.

what are the details

Officer Jeann Lugo, 35, was acquitted of a simple assault charge Wednesday.

Lugo slapped Rhode Island Political Cooperative co-founder Jennifer Rourke during the rally outside the State House. WPRI TV reports.

However, Lugo said he was trying to apprehend a suspect who assaulted self-proclaimed independent journalist Josh Mello and that Rourke physically stopped him, WPRI reported. Lugo said he used a pair of “police-trained distracting open-handed slapping techniques” on Rourke to “pull her off of him,” the station added.

Image source: WPRI TV video screenshot

The judge found Lugo’s actions justified because it was consistent with maintaining public order, WPRI said. Video of the incident shows that it took place at night.

A judge dismissed a disorderly conduct charge against Lugo in late August, the broadcaster said.

Lugo’s attorney, Daniel Griffin, told WPRI that his client “should never have been arrested. He’s a boy who wanted to serve the city, who wanted to serve his community, and he was put on trial. He has now been acquitted and we only hope that the City of Providence is doing the right thing and putting him back to work.”

A Providence Police spokesman said the department still wants to terminate Lugo – who has been on a paid suspension since the altercation – despite his acquittal, the broadcaster said. Lugo cannot be fired immediately because of the Bill of Rights for law enforcement officers, WPRI said, adding that it is unclear when the LEOBOR hearing will take place.

Lugo, a Republican, dropped out of the state Senate race shortly after the incident. Rourke, a Democrat, lost to another Republican as the seat of resigning Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey was up for grabs.

What does Black Lives Matter have to say?

The executive director of Black Lives Matter RI’s political action committee told WPRI he was at the pro-abortion rally, Rourke was just trying to de-escalate things and the justice system had let her down.

“This is a really disappointing decision today,” Harrison Tuttle added to WPRI. “This is unacceptable. We can’t have people, but most of all we can have police officers who slap women in the face.”

Image source: WPRI TV video screenshot

WPRI said it had not heard from Rourke after contacting her for comment.

Here’s the full statement on the local Black Lives Matter outfit verdict:

Today, Jeann Lugo, a Providence Police Officer and former candidate for RI Senate District 29, was acquitted by Jennifer Rourke of assault arising from an altercation at an abortion rights rally in the State House on June 25, 2022.

We at BLM RI PAC would like to offer our deepest condolences to Jennifer Rourke, the alleged victim of this attack. No one, let alone a political candidate, should fear or be subjected to physical violence because of their political views. Along with her alleged physical assault, which was caught on camera, she was stripped of her rights to freedom of expression and public demonstrations by an official who swore an oath to protect those rights for all citizens. Jennifer has had her day in court confronting her alleged abuser, as discouraging and stressful as that is. Unfortunately, the justice system has failed her and we know at this time that her grief and trauma is beyond description.

To Officers Lugo and the Providence Police Department: The acts committed that day and the resulting trial and decision are abhorrent. Today is a clear example of how policing in our state and capital needs to come under rigorous scrutiny. Attacking an officer of the law who is sworn to protect the rights of citizens in our community at a political figure exercising their right to freedom of expression and public demonstration is a contradiction and a taint on the validity of the appointment of that officer and the Providence Police Department a whole. We urge the City of Providence and the Providence Police Department to carefully consider whether and when they decide to reinstate Officer Lugo.

As we continue to fight for the rights of the people of our state, another day goes by and another alleged victim of police brutality is left to fend for himself. The justice system has again failed to protect the victims. We had to wait and wonder what the outcome of this process would be as we were not permitted to receive material information on this matter from Mayor Elorza or senior officials in the Providence Police Department due to active LEOBOR statutes which do not allow them to to comment on investigations against officers, even if charges are brought against the officer. We wait for the day when that is no more. We await the day when victims of police brutality receive the justice they deserve. We wait for the police in our cities and communities to be held accountable for their actions and remain transparent.

(H/D: The police stand)