A Rhode Island state senator candidate who was campaigning for office while off-duty is accused of assaulting a competitor at an abortion-rights protest.
Jennifer Rourke is a Democratic state senatorial candidate for Rhode Island. According to the most recent reports, her Republican opponent, Jeann Lugo, hit her in the face. The demonstration, which the WOMXN Project coordinated, featured a speech by Rourke. The organization’s board includes Rourke. A video of the entire event has been filmed and is quickly becoming viral on the internet.
In a tweet, the mayor claimed that the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights (LEOBOR) had restricted what he could say in public. He has seen the footage, and it is quite upsetting. Those responsible will be held fully accountable, the mayor said.
Who Is Jennifer Rourke From Rhode Island?
The Republican opponent of Rhode Island Democratic state Senate candidate Jennifer Rourke, a police officer who was off-duty, hit Rourke in the face during an abortion rights protest at the State House in Providence on Friday night, Rourke said in a statement to CNN.
According to Rourke, her Republican opponent Jeann Lugo struck her numerous times in the face while she was defusing a situation with a counterprotester. Video of the event shows Rourke getting involved in a fight during the rally, then almost immediately receiving a blow to the face. After bringing himself in on Saturday afternoon, Lugo was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct, according to Erik Yanyar of the Rhode Island State Police, who spoke to CNN.
Providence Officer Jeann Lugo Arrested: His Mugshot
A Providence Police Patrolman named Jeann Lugo, 35 was detained following a collaborative investigation between the two agencies on charges of simple assault and disorderly conduct, according to a statement from Erik Yanyar of the Rhode Island State Police, who spoke to CNN. Lugo was the off-duty officer engaged in this incident, the agency said in a subsequent tweet.
Following the rally, accusations of physical attacks that took place during the demonstration were made to the Providence Police Department and the Rhode Island State Police. Lugo announced his resignation from the state Senate contest in a tweet that is no longer accessible.
Learn About Jennifer Rourke’s Alleged Assault Video
At the abortion-rights demonstration on Friday night, Lugo reportedly assaulted his then-state Senate opponent, according to a video taken by Bill Bartholomew and provided to CNN. The incident happened when rally-goers encircled a man who was live-streaming the event and asked him to leave. In the footage, Rourke can be seen requesting the man’s departure while wearing a pink shirt.
The person live-streaming the event is abruptly punched on the side of the head by a man in a green jacket. The man who was punched is instantly helped by rally participants, who push the man in the green jacket away from the victim. The footage appears to show Lugo approaching Rourke during the commotion and striking her in the face with his right hand before backing away.
Both the Providence police and the Rhode Island State Police received reports from Rourke on Friday night and Saturday, respectively. She was spotted at a nearby hospital, where she later told CNN in a statement that the punch had given her a headache and ringing in her ears. Jorge Elorza, the mayor of Providence, said he saw the video and found the situation “immensely troubling.”