Category: Civil rights

December 1, 2025

ACLU Rhode Island: Local Governments and Nonprofit Groups Challenge Unlawful New Trump-Vance Administration Restrictions That Threaten Proven Solutions to Homelessness

Suit Raises Concerns that Trump-Vance Administration Actions Will Push Hundreds of Thousands of Families Into Homelessness as Cold Winter Months Arrive In a lawsuit filed today in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, a broad coalition of local governments and…

November 1, 2025

Rhode Island Leaders React to Judge McConnell Reinstating SNAP (Complaints Included): Plaintiff Bonnie Piekarski of The Milagros Project, Congressman Seth Magaziner (Video Statement), Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and More!

Two near simultaneous court decisions … one from Massachusetts … another from Rhode Island … have apparently have the force of law to prompt the Trump Administration to use an existing surplus to fund SNAP. While we…

October 28, 2025

ACLU of Rhode Island Sues Governor McKee for Restricting State House Before His January “State of The State” Address

Statement from the Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union In a case seeking to vindicate the right to free speech and assembly at the state’s quintessential public forum for free speech activity – the Rhode Island…

October 14, 2025

Pawtucket Coalition: Woodlawn Community Declares Victory with Dramatic Cleanup of Morley Field – Continues to Demand Reopening of Pawtucket Park/Greenspace

Statement from: Clovis Gregor (Representative Counselor District 5, Pawtucket, Woodlawn/Oak Hill) Cherie Cruz (Rhode Island State Representative District 58) Jennifer Stewart (Rhode Island State Representative District 59) Harrison Tuttle (Community Leader) In a significant victory for the Woodlawn community, Morley…

October 6, 2025

ACLU of Rhode Island Condemns Trump Administration’s Newest Threats to Higher Education, Urges Brown University to Reject Demands

The ACLU of Rhode Island today sent a letter to Brown University President Christine Paxson condemning the Trump Administration’s new “compact” that would undermine academic freedom and the autonomy of higher education institutions, and urging the university president to…

September 20, 2025

Rhode Island ACLU: Court Rules in Favor of Artists, Free Speech, in Case Against the National Endowment for the Arts

Court Strikes Down Unconstitutional Grant Restrictions on Various Legal Grounds From the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union In an important victory for First Amendment rights, a federal judge in Rhode Island has ruled in…

August 19, 2025

Benjamin Evans: Deny J.K. Equities’ Second Request for an Extension of Their Preliminary Plan to Pave Morley Field

Morley Field-Pawtucket, Rhode Island This Letter is Printed, with permission from the author: Attorney/Community Activist Benjamin Evans Dear Senior City Planner Pettinato and Pawtucket Planning Commission members, I was surprised to see on your agenda for August 19th that J.K. Equities is…

August 14, 2025

The Gabe Amo Congressional Update: Netanyahu in Gaza / Trump’s “Deal” Between Armenia & Azerbaijan / Amo Tours Rhode Island Veterans Home Amidst Trump’s Attacks on Those Who’ve Served / Amo, Ross Lead 88 Democrats in Opposing Trump’s Cuts to EPA Office Keeping Americans’ Air Clean and Water Safe

From the Office of Congressman Gabe Amo – Rhode Island Congressional District 1 Amo Statement on Netanyahu’s Planned Occupation of Gaza City “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must halt his planned occupation of Gaza City. As several Israeli military leaders have suggested,…

August 12, 2025

Human Rights Watch (HRW): United States Military Deployment in Washington, DC Unwarranted, Dangerous

From Human Rights Watch: United States President Donald Trump on August 11, 2025, announced the deployment of US National Guard troops in Washington, DC, claiming that “rising violence in the capital now urgently endangers public servants, citizens, and tourists, disrupts safe…

August 6, 2025

Kelly Morris Salvatore Continues to Show Up … Everywhere. That Is, Wherever the Blood Money Lies.

A shout out to my fellow Cumberlandites? Cumbys? In a manner not unlike a cross over episode of The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family … guess who is the attorney for arguably one one of the most…

August 6, 2025

Activist Harrison Tuttle Issues Statement to Pawtucket City Council on Morley Field

Community Leader Harrison Tuttle penned a letter to the embattled Pawtucket, Rhode Island City Council … in anticipation of tonight’s landmark meeting on the future of the much-villified Tax Stabilization Agreement with Long Island based JK Equities, on the…

August 4, 2025

Narragansett GOP Chair Calls for “Bounty Hunters” to Pursue “Illegal Aliens”. The Rhode Island Republican Party Responds

Imagine our surprise, when a screen shot, depicting a call for “illegal immigrant bounty hunters” was sent to the Facebook account of the Coalition Radio not once, not twice, but 3 times? Embattled Narragansett GOP Chair…

July 31, 2025

Morley Field! Pawtucket City Council Hero Clovis Gregor Posts Missive to City Council Citing Severe Risks of Environmental Contamination

In anticipation of a seminal August 6 Pawtucket City Council Meeting, Morley Field Activist/Stalwart/Pawtucket City Councilman has submitted the follow letter to Pawtucket City Council President Terrence “Terry” Mercer, specifically addressing the now infamous Tax Stabilization…

July 25, 2025

ACLU: RI Judge Grants Motion to Block Trump-Vance Administration’s Unlawful Restrictions on Funding for Critical Services for Survivors, LGBTQI+ Youth, & Unhoused Communities

The Rhode Island Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) continued its relentless assault on the news cycle with yet another victory, in the courts and the legislative halls … in this case blocking the Trump Administration from attempting…

July 21, 2025

ACLU of Rhode Island: Broad Nationwide Coalition Sues in Rhode Island to Block Trump Administration’s Unlawful Restrictions on Health and Housing Grants

From The Rhode Island Chapter of the Amercian Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) New Certification Requirements Threaten Critical Services for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors, LGBTQI+ Youth, and Unhoused Communities Local Woonsocket-Based Non Profit Community Care Associates Is a Plaintiff…

July 7, 2025

ACLU RI Update! Smithfield School District! RI Latino Arts on Gender Ideology!

Settlement Reached In Smithfield School District Social Media Censorship Lawsuit The ACLU of Rhode Island today announced the favorable settlement of a federal lawsuit that challenged, as a violation of the First Amendment, Smithfield School District’s actions in blocking a…

July 6, 2025

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Should Press US on Immigration Policies-Human Rights Watch

90 Rights Groups Write Soccer Leaders Over Rights Risks For 2026 World Cup FIFA, the world soccer governing body, should press the Trump administration to reverse immigration policies that create serious human rights risks around the 2026 World Cup,…

July 1, 2025

Opinion: The City of Providence v Sgt Joseph Hanley – An Activist Speaks Out

A Note From Coalition News: We live in an era where opinions are dangerous. Having a “Take” can get your fired … doxed … the object of retaliation. “Free Speech” is on life support. Accordingly, at the request of the…

June 18, 2025

Rhode Island ACLU Update: Files Lawsuit-Stop Trump From Imposing Unlawful Restrictions on Department of Justice/Office on Violence Against Women Grants Plus! RIDOC/ACI Suite Defending Native American Prisoners’ Religious Freedom

CHALLENGING NEW FEDERAL GRANT REQUIREMENTS, ACLU OF RI, LAWYERS’ COMMITTEE FOR RI AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SUE ON BEHALF OF RI COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, NATIONAL COALITIONS (Statements Issued by the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union)…

June 3, 2025

Rhode Island Republicans / GOP House Minority Leader Chippendale Express Disgust/Revulsion at Passage of “Assault” Weapons Ban in Rhode Island Legislature

Statements are directly from the respective organizations. RI GOP Chairman Joe Powers Condemns Passage of Gun Ban in House Judiciary Committee: “This is a Full-Frontal Assault on Your Rights” The Rhode Island Republican Party, under the leadership…

April 24, 2025

ACLU Advises Rhode Island Colleges & Universities on Legal Limits on ICE’s Authority

From the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island has shared this week with the presidents and general counsel of Rhode Island’s colleges and universities a detailed letter…

April 21, 2025

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Issues Safety Advisory for Journalists Traveling to the United States

From The Committee to Protect Journalists: The Committee to Protect Journalists today released a safety advisory covering a wide range of digital, physical, and legal tips aimed at journalists and media workers who plan to visit the United States….

April 21, 2025

Four State ACLU Affiliates File Class Action Lawsuit Challenging Terminated Student Status of Students in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, & Puerto Rico

From the ACLU of New Hampshire: Four ACLU affiliates and law firm Shaheen & Gordon filed a federal class action lawsuit today seeking to represent over 100 students in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, and Puerto Rico who had…

April 18, 2025

The City of Woonsocket Resumes Its War on the Homeless: Proposes Ordinance “Prohibiting Camping on Public Property”

City Ordinance Effectively Criminalizing Poverty Proposed By City Councilmen Cournoyer, Dubois & Gendron Just days after the City of Woonsocket appeared to have taken a major step forward in addressing the City’s Homeless challenges, with significant conversations surrounding…

April 3, 2025

West Greenwich, Rhode Island Town Council Unanimously Passes Resolution in Opposition to Rhode Island 2025 Gun Control Legislation

The Town of West Greenwich Town Council passed, by a 5-0 unanimous vote, a Resolution declaring their Opposition to the current spate of gun control legislation currently under consideration at the Rhode Island Legislature. Citing, among other issues, Constitutional…

April 2, 2025

Dismissed Pawtucket Schools Superintendent Sues The Valley Breeze for Defamation: “Minimum Potential of Economic Damage Assessed at $2 Million Dollars”

“In fact, the Valley Breeze, in publishing these false statements, acted with serious doubts about the truth about many statements, or worse, intentionally lied in publishing these statements” – Patricia Royal, Plaintiff v. Valley Breeze Former…

March 17, 2025

Atlantic Mills Tenants Union Call on Legislators to Reject 8 Law Bill at Rhode Island State House Rally

Protestors, including Rhode Island State Representative David Morales, and Members/Leaders of the Atlantic Mills Tenant Union, gathered Saturday on the steps of the Rhode Island State House to continue their efforts to maintain affordable rents for working artists at the…

March 13, 2025

Attorney General Peter Neronha Joins Coalition in Suing Trump Administration to Stop Dismantling of Failing Federal Department of Education

From The Office of Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha: Attorney General Neronha today joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in suing the Trump Administration to stop the dismantling of the Department of Education (ED)….

February 24, 2025

The Michie Hostel Evictions: Dozens of Sponsored Homeless Tenants are Evicted onto the Cold Streets of Providence. What Happened?

Saturday afternoon, the Coalition Radio Network was informed, through contacts developed by “Sister Effort” Libertarian Mutual Aid, (LMA) that the residents of two Michie Hostels, at 230 Thayer Street on College Hill, and a South Side facility located…

February 13, 2025

RI ACLU: ACLU & Roger Williams University Law School Clinic Seek Emergency Relief Over The Adult Correctional Institute’s Failure To Accommodate Muslim Prisoners’ Religious Freedom

From The Rhode Island Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union A lawsuit filed today by attorneys for the RWU Prisoners’ Rights Clinic and the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island challenges the R.I. Department of Corrections’ (RIDOC) restrictive policies governing the religious freedom of Muslims incarcerated…

February 10, 2025

Superintendent Palazzo – Glocester School Superintendent – Responds to Rhode Island ACLU Calls on Student Book Access Restrictions

The Coalition News has received a copy of the response from Glocester School Superintendent Dr. Renee Palazzo to the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union call to halt “arbitrary restrictions on student access to books”. …

February 6, 2025

Update: Did Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee Cave to the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers? We Went to the Source!

The battle lines were drawn: Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers Maximum Leader Richard Ferruccio, long regarded as one of the most powerful Union Leaders in Lil Rhody, had called for an “Informational Picket Line” (Our words)…

February 5, 2025

Press Release: BLM RI PAC Calls Out Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency for Lack of Transparency & Financial Mismanagement

Statement: Harrison Tuttle-BLM RI PAC Black Lives Matter Rhode Island PAC (BLM RI PAC) is calling attention to the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency’s (PRA) failure to comply with public records laws after withholding financial documents requested over two weeks ago. The requested…

February 4, 2025

Statement: Robert J. Chiaradio Responds to the RI ACLU Statement on Student Access to Books

Robert J. Chiaradio, Jr., writes in response to: ACLU Calls on Glocester School District to Halt Arbitrary Restrictions on Student Access to Books It is the policy of The Coalition Radio Network & Coalition News to give individuals/organizations the opportunity…

February 3, 2025

ACLU Calls on Glocester School District to Halt Arbitrary Restrictions on Student Access to Books

In the ongoing debate on access to children’s literature, via School Library, the Rhode Island ACLU is “urging” Foster Glocester School Superintendent to walk back directives to district librarians. At the center of the controversy? The Tug of War…