A male cop who was running for the Rhode Island Senate has tweeted that he is withdrawing from the race after being accused of punching his female rival at a Roe v. Wade protest
An abortion rights protest devolved into chaos in Rhode Island on Friday, after a state Senate candidate was apparently struck in the face by her Republican opponent.
“I’m a reproductive rights organizer & State Senate candidate. Last night, after speaking at our Roe rally, my Republican opponent—a police officer—violently attacked me,” Democrat candidate Jennifer RourkeThe alleged assailant, Jeann Lugo, was confirmed as the officer involved by the Providence Police Department.
Speaking to The Daily Beast, Rourke said she is a board member of the organization that helped organize Friday’s rally. After giving a speech, she said, she stepped aside and noticed an altercation taking place involving a counter-protester, whom she encouraged to exit the premises. “I just kept saying, ‘He hit me. He hit me,’ ” she recalled. “And he ran off.” She said she had never previously had a conversation with the off-duty cop.
Rourke told The Daily Beast that she has been suffering from concussion-like symptoms and has been in touch with Providence police about pressing charges. She went to the hospital over the weekend to receive a precautionary CT scan, she said, and doctors told her to return if her symptoms worsen. “Incidents like this are the reason why many Black and brown candidates don't run for office,” she added.
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