— Photo by J.T. Thorne
From Robert Whitcomb’s “Digital Diary,’’ in GoLocal24.com
It’s a big challenge, but Providence and the Rhode Island State Police need to do a better job monitoring the sort of flood of riders of ATV’s, mopeds, motorcycles and dirt bikes (sounds like a Trump rally) that assaulted parts of Providence last Sunday, ruining the day for thousands of residents. The police need to have a better idea of when and where these people, many from outside the city, are grouping before they can sweep through Providence’s streets, with many participants dangerously ignoring traffic laws. Roadblocks and the credible threat of mass arrests are needed to stop therm.
Trying to control these invasions, of course, poses dangers in themselves, as
witness a very troubling crash involving a police car and a young man riding in this mob last Sunday, who, as I write this, was in a coma. But it’s far more dangerous to let these riders disrupt the city than to let them roam at will in their packs. They need to be made very afraid of law enforcement. Unfortunately Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza is seen as weak, which encourages their dangerous activities. Engendering a little fear of the mayor would be a good preventive.
These mobs don’t belong in cities.
