One reason why I voted for Niles Niemuth in the 2016 presidential
election. Not trusting the corrupt state of Rhode Island I took a
digital photo of my ballot.
Way back in early 70s my working
class pals in the Washington Park area of Providence - often unemployed
because blue collar factory work was dying out- were regular victims of
police brutality -despite being big , tough, and Irish ( like the
Providence cops ) .
Al was a Vietnam War veteran nicknamed "
Tail Gunner Al " . Al ( also nicknamed named " The Kind V " ) became a hopeless drug addict and alcoholic. He
died of a heart attack more than 20 years ago. I read a note left at his
graveside . Al was always refraining : " There is no justice ! "
The note read : " Al, I hope you find justice in the next world."
Al's close friend Tommy- once battered senseless by the cops- ( too much Wild Irish Rose ) died not long after.
By 1973 my more sober and disciplined friends were
literally walking over the " Washington Park Zombies " to get into
their apartments.
I met one " Joanie " in Kennedy Plaza a
few days ago.She just got out of Butler mental hospital. Toothless at
age 60 , she asked me for two dollars - for cigarettes sold singly , I
guess. I remember her as a rather lovely girl of 16 in the local coffee
shop.
So many wasted , wasted lives in once thriving Washington Park.
I recall the " Officer Friendly " there who visited the
elementary schools to tell the kids what the police were all about.
Broad Street School was renamed some years ago after a local "
philanthropist ".. This Mr. Feinstein has his name inscribed on many
buildings along with his words of wisdom - worthy of Andrew Carnegie.
My Broad Street School now Alan Shawn Feinstein School
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