>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY, TOBER 18TH 2020.

PROVIDENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS TRY TO CONTAIN A GROUP OF YOUNG MEN WHO ARE ILLEGALLY WRITING TO ASK IN THE CITY.

MINUTES LATER, ONE OF THE WRITERS IS KNOCKED OFF OF HIS -- RIDERS IS KNOCKED OFF OF HIS BIKE.

>> HE DEFIES HIM IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

THE POLICE OFFICER DOES NOT STOP.

>> MUSIC VENUES ALL OVER THE OCEAN STATE WERE FORCED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES THEY COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED.

>> WE NEVER OPENED UP INSIDE.

WE BUILT A DOOR IN MY DOOR WITH PLYWOOD.

A PLEXIGLAS WINDOW.

IT WAS LIKE THE APOCALYPSE.

I KIND OF DUG IT.

THIS IS NOT SO BAD.

EVEN THOUGH IT IS.

>> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

HUNDREDS OF BIKERS ON MOPEDS, DIRT BIKES AND ATPS PARTICIPATED IN AN ILLEGAL RIDE.

THE RIDE OUTS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY AND HAVE BEEN A SOURCE OF GROWING ENMITY BETWEEN THE POLICE AND RIDERS.

FUNNY 4-YEAR-OLD JAMAR GUN SOLVES CAME UP AGAINST A POLICE CRUISER.

THE INCIDENT SPARKED LARGE-SCALE PROTESTS, A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND LIKE CULTURE IN THE URBAN CORE.

BILL BARTHOLOMEW HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE STORY.

>> PROVIDENCE POLICE BEGAN PURSUING A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE ON MOTORCYCLES PARTICIPATING IN WHAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS A RIDE OUT.

OFFICER CARL ANDRE ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER 24-YEAR-OLD JAMAR GONSALVES.

MOMENTS LATER, HE LAY SEVERELY INJURED.

>> WHY WOULD THEY COME AT HIM WITH SUCH AGGRESSION?

>> MARK GONZALEZ IS JAMAAL'S FATHER.

HE BELIEVES THE OFFICERS INVOLVED ACTED IN AN AGGRESSIVE AND VIOLENT MANNER.

>> THEY DECIDED TO UTILIZE THEIR UNIFORM AND CRUISER THAT WE PAID FOR AND USE THAT.

WHY DID ALL THEM OFFICERS JUMP OUT OF THEIR CARS LIKE THAT?

>> THE INCIDENT LEFT JAMAAL AND ACOMA.

OFFICERS CAN BE SEEN MOVING HIM AFTER THE CRASH.

AS WELL AS ADMINISTERING THE OPIOID OVERDOSE SOLUTION NARCAN.

A TOXICOLOGY REPORT LATER SHOWED NO SIGNS OF DRUGS IN JAMAAL'S SYSTEM AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.

PROVIDENCE POLICE ANNOUNCED THEY WERE EACH CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS INTO WHAT LED TO THE INCIDENT AND WHETHER ANY PROCEDURAL OR CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT OCCURRED ON THE PART OF THE PROVIDENCE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WERE INVOLVED.

FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, A SERIES OF PROTESTS IN THE CAPITAL CITY THROUGH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND LEAD TO CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE AND PROTESTERS.

RHODE ISLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL ENGAGED THE RHODE ISLAND STATE POLICE TO ASSIST IN THE INVESTIGATION, DRAWING ON A NEW POLICY THAT CALLS FOR THIRD-PARTY DELETES -- PARTY POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO INVESTIGATE CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT.

>> ONCE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED, MY OFFICE TAKES IT AND FIGURES OUT WHAT IT MEANS LITERALLY.

THE INVESTIGATION PRODUCED A DETAILED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE COLLISION ITSELF INCLUDING EXAMINING OFFICER ANDRES POLICE VEHICLES BLACK BOX, BODYCAM FOOTAGE, RADIO TRANSMISSIONS AND SURVEILLANCE AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOOTAGE CAPTURED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

>> HOW DID THE INCIDENT TAKE PLACE?

DID THE SCOOTER ACTUALLY STRIKE?

A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT HAPPENED INCLUDING SOME EYEWITNESSES.

PERHAPS INTENTIONALLY RAN HIM OFF THE ROAD.

SO THE FIRST QUESTION WAS HOW EXACTLY DID THIS PHYSICALLY HAPPEN.

>> HIS OFFICERS DETERMINED THAT THE INCIDENT DID NOT MEET THE STANDARD FOR CRIMINAL RECKLESSNESS.

THEY DETERMINED THAT OFFICER ANDRES ATTEMPTED TO SLOW HIS VEHICLE DOWN SECONDS BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A STOP SIGN.

THAT ULTIMATELY SNAPPED AND STRUCK JAMAAL'S HEAD.

>> WHAT WAS THE REACTION IN THE ROOM AS YOU PRESENTED THE FINDINGS TO THE GONSALVES FAMILY?

>> IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR US TO SIT IN A ROOM WITH A FAMILY THAT HAS SUFFERED GREAT LOSS AND TRY TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT THIS IS NOT A CRIMINAL CASE.

THAT NEGLIGENT DRIVING IS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE A CASE.

SOMETIMES THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT MESSAGE FOR LOVED ONES TO HEAR.

I CAN'T MAKE LEGAL DECISIONS BASED ON THE EMOTION OF SOMEONE BEING IN A COMA WHICH IS TRAGIC.

YOUR HEART BREAKS FOR THAT YOUNG MAN AND HIS FAMILY.

WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO WHAT THE LAW TEACHES US.

IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT WHAT THIS CASE ISN'T IS A RECKLESS CRIMINAL CASE.

IT COULD BE A NEGLIGENT SEVERAL CASE.

-- CIVIL CASE.

>> PROVIDENCE POLICE COMMISSIONER STEPHEN PERRY ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS OF THEIR OWN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.

INCLUDING A TWO DAY SUSPENSION FOR OFFICER ANDRES AS WELL AS RETRAINING FOR OTHER OFFICERS ON THE SCENE.

DUE TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BILL OF RIGHTS, TWO DAYS IS THE MAXIMUM SUSPENSION AN OFFICER MAY RECEIVE.

>> THERE WAS NO PURSUIT.

CHASING IS AKIN TO A PURSUIT.

SO LEGALLY AND ACCORDING TO POLICY, OFFICER ANDRES WAS NOT PURSUING MR. GONZALEZ.

A HORRIBLE CRASH HAD OCCURRED AND NOBODY WANTS TO SEE THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT OUR ACTIONS ARE AND WHAT THE ACTIONS OF THE VICTIMS ARE.

>> I THINK A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS HAVE NOT AN ANSWER.

WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANDRES WAS FOLLOWING GONSALVES BUT HE WAS NOT IN PURSUIT.

>> JOSE BATISTA IS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND ATTORNEY AND FORMER HEAD OF THE PROVIDENCE POLICE OVERSIGHT OR.

DASHBOARD.

IN OCTOBER 2020, HE WAS FIRED WHEN HE UNILATERALLY RELEASED FOOTAGE OF SERGEANT JOSEPH HANLEY ASSAULTING RISHAAD GORE, A SUSPECT WHO WAS ALREADY IN CUSTODY.

>> IT'S NOT HARD TO SEE, YOU'VE GOT AN OFFICER CLEARLY TRYING TO TALK -- STOP HIM.

JAMAAL DEFIES HIM IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

THE OFFICER GOES AFTER HIM AND THE POLICE OFFICER DOES NOT STOP GOING AFTER HIM.

I'M NOT CONTENDING THAT HE MALICIOUSLY DROVE INTO HIM, THERE IS SOME QUESTION THAT A CIVILIAN WOULD ASK ABOUT THAT.

SO JUSTICE FOR JAMAAL WOULD BE TRANSPARENCY.

IT IS NOT JUST TO CALL FOR THE CAREER OF ANDRE JUST BECAUSE.

IT'S ACTUALLY STUDY WHAT WENT WRONG HERE.

>> MANY PROVIDENCE RESIDENTS TOLD US THE GROUPS OF RIDERS ARE DANGEROUS AND DESTRUCTIVE.

OTHERS SEE THEM AS A SOURCE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNGSTERS.

MARIANNE IS A PROVIDENCE RESIDENT WHO HAS TWO SONS THAT RIDE AS PART OF THE GROUP.

>> IT QUDS PLUM -- IT KEEPS THEM OUT OF TROUBLE.

IT KEEPS THEM MOTIVATED.

THEY DON'T DO WHAT THEY USED TO DO.

THEY ARE NOT IN THE STREETS.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BIKES.

>> JEREMY COSTA HEADS UP AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF RIDERS IN THE STATE.

>> WHEN WE ARE ALL TOGETHER, WE DON'T SEE THE COLOR OF SKIN.

WE SEE TWO WHEELS AND A MAN OR WOMAN RIDINGA BIKE.

THAT BIKE CREATES BONDS.

IT BUILDS BUSINESSES.

IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE TWO HANDS ON YOUR BIKE, YOU CAN'T BE OUT THERE PEDDLING DRUGS.

YOU CAN'T BE OUT THERE PICKING UP GUNS BECAUSE YOU ARE PICKING UP YOUR BIKE.

>> BEFORE THE JAMAAL GONZALEZ INCIDENT, THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE HAS TAKEN OPPRESSIVE BROOCH -- AN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH TO DEALING WITH THE MOTORBIKES.

A POLICY IN WHICH ILLEGAL BIKES OPERATED ON CITY STREETS COULD BE SEIZED AND CRUSHED IN A PUBLIC DISPLAY.

>> THE TAX OF 300 AND 200 AND EVEN 75, IT GETS DANGEROUS FOR THE MOTORING PUBLIC, FOR PEDESTRIANS, FOR THE RIDERS THEMSELVES.

SO OUR STRATEGY WAS TO FORFEIT THOSE VEHICLES, PERHAPS DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM BUYING THOSE SCOOTERS AND ATV'S AND RIDING THEM IN FEAR OF IF YOU GET CAUGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE IT.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL PETER NAVARRO THAT WAS FULLY AWARE OF WHAT WAS AT STAKE.

>> I KNEW I NEEDED TO KNOW THIS CASE AS WELL AS ANYBODY ON MY TEAM BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE RESULTS.

PART OF THE COMMUNITY WAS GOING TO BE SCARED ABOUT THOSE RESULTS.

THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS TO KNOW THE CASE PERSONALLY WELL.

THE ONLY WAY WE WERE GOING TO BUILD READABILITY WAS TO BE AS TRANSPARENT, OPEN AND AS COMPETENT AS WE COULD POSSIBLY BE.

>> IN DECEMBER AHEAD OF THE INVESTIGATION, JAMAAL WAS TRANSFERRED TO A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY IN NEW JERSEY.

THOUGH HIS ATTORNEY TOLD US HE IS SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF IMPROVED, HE SAYS HE HAS A LONG ROAD AHEAD.

>> JAMAAL EUGENE GONSALVES DESERVES SOME JUSTICE.

HE SHOULD BE HOME RIGHT NOW.

THIS YOUNG MAN HAS THINGS PLANNED OUT.

I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF A WORD IN THE DICTIONARY TO EXPLAIN OR GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW PROUD I AM.

>> IN JANUARY, JAMAAL GONSALVES'S FAMILY FILED A CIVIL LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE.

HE WAS OPERATING HIS VEHICLE SAFELY AND HAD DONE NOTHING TOWARD PURSUIT OR OF REST AND THE POLICE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN UNWARRANTED EXERTION OF FORCE.

WE TURN TO THE WORLD OF MUSIC AND THE IMPACT COVID-19 HAS HAD ON IT HERE AND IN THE COUNTRY.

RHODE ISLAND HAS A RICH HISTORY OF LIVE MUSIC.

THERE ARE ICONIC MUSIC VENUES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

MUSIC VENUES ARE AN INCONTROVERTIBLE ASPECT -- ELEMENT.

PROVIDENCE HAS LONG BEEN AN IMPORTANT CITY FOR HOSTING NATIONAL AND REGIONAL ACTS, WHICH HAS ADDED TO THE STATE REPUTATION AS AN ARTS HUB.

IT AS THE PANDEMIC HAS ALL BUT ELIMINATED LIVE MUSIC WORLDWIDE, HOW HAS RHODE ISLAND'S COMMUNITY VENUES MANAGED TO SURVIVE.

THE ANSWER IS WITH A LOT OF PAIN AND A GREAT DEAL OF ADAPTATION.

>> MUSIC VENUES ARE THE LIFELINE OF OUR CULTURE HERE IN PROVIDENCE.

IT'S INCREDIBLE TO SEE HOW MANY VENUES WE HAVE.

QUALITY VENUES.

>> A MUSIC PROMOTER AND JOURNALIST HAS WRITTEN ABOUT RHODE ISLAND'S MUSIC SCENE.

>> ALL THESE PLACES HAVE HISTORY AND VALUE TO THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.

WITHOUT THESE VENUES, OUR CULTURE GOES AWAY.

HE SAYS THE FUTURE FOR RHODE ISLAND MUSIC COMMUNITY IS FAR FROM CERTAIN.

>> WE HAVEN'T HAD THE FINISH LINE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE CAN'T SAY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN POST PANDEMIC ROAD YET.

>> FOR MOST OF THE VENUE OWNERS, THE KEY TO THEIR SURVIVAL HAS BEEN PIVOTING FROM THEIR IS THIS MODEL INCLUDING MOVING SHOWS TO LIMITED ATTENDANCE AND OUT DOOR ADVENT.

>> WE EASED OUR WAY BACK INTO SOCIALLY DISTANCE BAR ATMOSPHERE BEFORE WE REALLY GOT INVOLVED IN THE TAKE IT OUTSIDE INITIATIVE.

WHICH I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME BUT TECHNICALLY THAT HAS BECOME THE DESK VENUE WHICH IS CHARLOTTE HOPE STREET RIGHT BEHIND ME.

SINCE THEN, ALL OF OUR ENTERTAINMENT, OUR LIVE SHOWS HAVE COME OUTSIDE.

I HAD TO CREATE A PLAN.

I HAD MY TAPE MEASURE OUTSIDE AND I SOCIALLY DISTANCE TO THE TABLES AND CREATED A DIAGRAM THAT I HAD TO BRING TO CITY HALL TO GET APPROVED TO FOLLOW COVID REGULATIONS.

>> RICK SUNDERLAND OWNS DUSK, A PROVIDENCE MUSIC VENUE THAT BEFORE COVID-19 HOSTED NIGHTLY LIVE MUSIC EVENTS.

HE SAYS HIS MAIN MOTIVE RIGHT NOW IS MAKING IT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> RIGHT NOW THIS IS NOT ABOUT PROFIT.

EVEN WHEN TIMES ARE GOOD.

>> FOR SOME OF RHODE ISLAND'S MUSIC VENUES, STAYING AFLOAT HAS MEANT SHIFTING THEIR BUSINESS MODEL TO FOCUSING ON FOOD OFFERINGS.

DAVE POND SNAP'S LATE-NIGHT IDEA SPAWNED A CONCEPT.

>> I'M ON MY COUCH LIKE, ICE CREAM.

SO I GOOGLED LOCAL ICE CREAM.

I IMMEDIATELY START AN ACCOUNT, ORDERED AN ICE CREAM FREEZER.

SCOOPS, CONTAINERS, GLOVES, EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF.

>> HE QUICKLY BEGAN OFFERING ICE CREAM TO GO.

>> MY DAD BUILT A DOOR IN MY DOOR PLYWOOD AND AN OPENING WITH SPEAKERS PLAYING 80'S MUSIC ALL DAY.

IT WAS LIKE THE APOCALYPSE.

I KIND OF DUG IT.

THIS IS NOT SO BAD.

>> EVENTUALLY, POND SNAP OFFERED TO GO BOOZY SHAKES.

FOR NEW PORTS MUSIC STAPLE PARLER, THE OWNER ALSO MADE THE TURN TO FOCUS ON FOOD WILDLIFE MUSIC WAS OFF THE TABLE.

>> WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE DO HAVE THE RESTAURANT ELEMENT BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE SHUT DOWN, I HAD A GOOD CRY ON MY STAGE AND IT WAS VERY UNKNOWN BUT I SAT WITH MY CHEF NIKKI WHO IS AMAZING AND WE JUST GRABBED IT BY THE HORNS AND WE SAID THERE'S ONLY ONE THING TO DO AND THAT'S USE THIS TIME THAT WE ARE CLOSED TO REINVENT OURSELVES FOR THE TIME BEING.

WE HAD TO REINVENT OURSELVES INTO A RESTAURANT AND GO MORE FOOD DRIVEN RATHER THAN MUSIC DRIVEN WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE NORMALLY DO.

>> AS PART OF THE CARES ACT PACKAGE, A GOAL OF PROVIDING SMALL AND MEDIUM MUSIC VENUES THAT INCOME TO STABILIZE THEIR BUSINESSES.

FOR SEVERAL VENUE OWNERS, PREVIOUS GRANT AND LOANS PROVED DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE.

>> JUMPING THROUGH FIERY HOOPS WITH MY HAIR ON FIRE COVERED IN GASOLINE JUST TO FIND ONE PIECE OF INFO FOR THIS APPLICATION IS NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH.

AND THE DEADLINE IS ONE HOUR.

IT WAS PANIC ATTACKS.

IT WASN'T EASY.

>> THOUGH POND SNAP ACKNOWLEDGES THE VIRUS IS A SIGNIFICANT THREAT, GINA RAIMONDO AND HER ADMINISTRATION HAD DONE TOO LITTLE TO HELP SMALL VENUES LIKE HIS.

>> I GOT A CERTIFICATE FOR MY ACCOMPLISHMENT FROM BEST OF RHODE ISLAND.

THROW IN THE TRASH.

LIGHT A FIRE WITH A. I'M GOING TO PUT ON THE WALL.

IT'S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT IF ANYTHING.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT HER BACK THEN EITHER.

OK COOL, THE GOVERNMENT A LIST A CERTIFICATE.

SINCE THEN I HAVE CRINKLED IT UP AND THROWN IT AWAY.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE GRANT PROGRAMS, THE CARES ACT DOLLARS?

>> I THINK WITHOUT GOVERNMENT MONEY AND THE FUNDS, I DON'T THINK THAT WE WILL SURVIVE THE IMPENDING COLD-WEATHER, THE WINTER MONTHS, THE COLD, THE SLEET, THE RAIN, THE SNOW.

>> KRISTIN MASHA SAYS SHE IS NOT ANTICIPATING REOPENING HER STAGE ANYTIME SOON.

>> WE ALWAYS REMAIN HOPEFUL.

I HOPE THAT IT'S GOING TO CHANGE.

I TRY NOT TO GET EXCITED.

MY MENTALITY HAS BEEN JUST PREPARE FOR THE WORST.

I DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT REOPENING.

>> THE VENUE OPEN -- VENUE OWNERS ALL SHARED A CONCERN FOR THE LONG-TERM IMPACT ON RHODE ISLAND'S CULTURE.

RICK SUNDERLAND LEAVES ANY VENUES HAVE COME TO DEFINE THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE'S REPUTATION AS THE CREATIVE CAPITAL.

>> I THINK THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE DEFINITELY WOULD BE A SMALL BORING CITY WITHOUT THE PLACES THAT I'VE MENTIONED INCLUDING MY OWN PLACE AS WELL.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO CRY ON THIS.

BUT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HURTING THAT SIMPLY JUST WANT TO SING THEIR VERY UNKNOWN SONGS THAT'S NOT EVEN FINISHED YET.

ON A STAGE IN THIS AREA NEVER MIND THE WHOLE COUNTRY WITH THE WORLD.

AND THEIR SOUL IS IN A CAGE RIGHT NOW.

THEY CAN'T EXPRESS THEMSELVES UNLESS IT'S THROUGH A DEVICE THAT WE ARE STARING AT RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S REALLY SICKENING AND ANGERING AND SAD AND IT BREAKS MY HEART.

IT'S IN THE BACK BURNER RIGHT NOW.

HOW DO I BRING THAT BACK EVEN A LITTLE?

>> WHAT'S YOUR MESSAGE TO ANYONE OUT THERE THAT IS MISSING LIVE MUSIC AND IS CRAVING IT AND JUST FEELING DEPRESSED BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE IT IN THEIR LIFE?

>> IT'S HARD TO READ NOTHING REPLACES LIVE MUSIC.

>> OUR THANKS TO BILL BARTHOLOMEW FOR THOSE REPORTS.

IN JANUARY, THE NATIONAL INDEPENDENT VENUE ASSOCIATION WROTE A LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN OFFERING MUSIC VENUES AROUND THE COUNTRY TO BE USED AS VACCINATION SITES.

THE GROUP WROTE, SINCE THE PANDEMIC SHUTTERED OUR INDUSTRY ALMOST A YEAR AGO, OUR BUILDINGS AND COWORKERS HAVE BEEN PAUSED, UNUTILIZED AND STRUGGLING.

THESE VACCINES ARE THE BEST CHANCE OF PUTTING COVID-19 BEHIND US AND OUR EXPERIENCES ORGANIZING EVENTS AND MANAGING CROWDS PUT US IN THE UNIQUE POSITION OF BEING THE BEST PREPARED AND MOST QUALIFIED INDUSTRY TO SUPPORT THE VACCINATION EFFORT AND GET THIS COUNTRY ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY.

AS MORE WARM WEATHER APPROACHES, MORE VENUES HOPE TO BEGIN OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES.

SOME AROUND THE STATE HAVE ALREADY CLOSED THEIR DOORS PERMANENTLY OR LISTED THEIR PROPERTY FOR SALE.

FINALLY TONIGHT, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY TELLS US ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE EXECUTION OF AN IRISH IMMIGRANT NEARLY 180 YEARS AGO.

>> ON FEBRUARY 14, 1845, RHODE ISLAND EXECUTED A MAN FOR THE LAST TIME.

THAT MAN WAS JOHN GORDON AND HIS STORY IS FAR FROM CLEAR CUT.

ACCUSED AND CONVICTED OF THE MURDER OF A TEXTILE MAGNATE IN 1843, JOHN GORDON AND HIS BROTHERS, IRISH IMMIGRANTS, WERE ACCUSED OF HIS WANTON MURDER RELATED TO FACE SAID NOT GETTING A LIQUOR LICENSE FOR HIS BROTHER'S BUSINESS.

NICHOLAS GORDON COMES TO AMERICA AND HE BEGINS HIS OWN AND VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

AND HE SETS UP HIS OWN STORE THAT SELLS AMONG OTHER THINGS ALCOHOL AND HE SETS UP THIS STORE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS LARGELY RUN BY A&W SPRAGUE, A TEXTILE FACTORY AND FACTORY TOWN IN MANY WAYS.

AND THIS PUTS THE GORDON FAMILY IN A BIT OF OPPOSITION WITH THE SPRAGUE FAMILY.

WHEN NICHOLAS GOES TO OBTAIN HIS LIQUOR LICENSE OR RENEW A LIQUOR LICENSE, THE SPRAGUE'S MAKE IT CLEAR THEY ARE GOING TO BLOCK THAT FROM HAPPENING.

APPARENTLY AFTER DINNER ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, 1843, SPRAGUE LEAVES HIS HOME AND GOES TO CHECK ON HIS ANIMALS IN THE BARN.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT HAPPENS.

BUT WE KNOW LATER IN THAT DAY, ONE OF THE SERVANTS FROM THE HOUSEHOLD COMES UPON THE BODY OF SPRAGUE.

THERE IS SNOW ON THE GROUND SO THEY BEGIN LOOKING FOR THINGS LIKE TRACKS IN THE SNOW.

BUT WHAT THEY SAY THEY FIND OUR FOOTPRINTS -- ARE FOOTPRINTS.

OTHERS HAVE ESTIMATED WITH THE NORMAL FOOT TRAFFIC IN THIS AREA THAT THEY HAVE PIECED TOGETHER THAT THERE ARE LIKELY HUNDREDS OF SETS OF FOOTPRINTS.

THIS IS A HIGHLY TRAFFICKED AREA.

SO THE FACT THAT THERE WOULD BE TRACKS GOING TO THE GORDON HOUSE SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE.

WHAT THEY FOUND AT THE SCENE WAS LARGELY CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

BUT IT WAS ENOUGH FOR THEM TO GO TO THE GORDON'S HOME AND ACCUSE THEM OF THIS CRIME.

THE TRIAL BEGINS IN APRIL.

SO IT IS VERY SWIFT ON THE HEELS OF THE ARREST AND IT IS OVERSEEN BY A VERY ESTABLISHED MEMBER OF THE RHODE ISLAND PROTESTANT ELITE.

AND THEY HAVE A JERRY, IT'S A JURY TRIAL AND IT IS A JURY NOT OF THE GORDON'S PEERS BUT OF SPRAGUE'S PEERS IN MANY WAYS.

IT IS A SOLIDLY WHITE PROTESTANT JOURNEY -- JURY.

WHEN HE BEGINS THIS TRIAL, HE ACTUALLY INSTRUCTS THIS JURY TO GIVE MORE CREDENCE TO THE WORDS OF THE YANKEE STOCK RATHER THAN THE IRISH.

SO WE SEE EVIDENCE ALREADY THAT THIS TRIAL IS TAINTED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

AND IT LASTS JUST NINE DAYS.

THERE ARE 100 AND TWO WITNESSES BROUGHT ALMOST ALL OF THEM AGAINST THE GORDON'S.

ONE PROTESTANT YANKEE IS GIVEN AN ALIBI TO WILLIAM AND IT IS THAT ALIBI THAT MEANS THAT WILLIAM WILL BE FOUND INNOCENT BUT HIS BROTHER JOHN WILL BE FOUND GUILTY.

HE IS EXECUTED ON FEBRUARY 14, 1845.

SO THAT IS JUST 13 MONTHS OR SO AFTER THE CRIME IS COMMITTED.

THE STORY OF JOHN GORDON WAS NEVER LOST TO THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND, ESPECIALLY TO THE IRISH CATHOLIC COMMUNITY WHO STILL FELT THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY INAPPROPRIATE BUT THAT THIS WAS AN INNOCENT MAN.

IT TOOK A WHILE BEFORE PEOPLE WERE IN A POSITION OF POWER TO BEGIN SAYING WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF TRYING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT.

AND TO SAY THAT WE AS A STATE MADE A MISTAKE.

RHODE ISLAND IS NOT A DEATH PENALTY STATE AND THERE WAS A CLEAR MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE THAT ALSO REPRESENTS PREJUDICE AND AN ANTI-IMMIGRANT SENTIMENT THAT WAS PARTICULARLY PROFOUND AND GLITTERING.

SO IT WAS GOVERNOR LINCOLN CHAFEE WHO ISSUED A POSTHUMOUS PARDON TO JOHN GORDON AND SO HE WAS CONVICTED AND HE WAS EXECUTED.

BUT ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AT THIS POINT, IT WAS RHODE ISLAND THAT WAS IN THE WRONG AND HE WAS AN INNOCENT MAN.

>> OUR THANKS TO THE RHODE ISLAND SECURITY -- HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR THAT REPORT IN 1852, RHODE ISLAND ABOLISHED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR ALL CRIMES.

20 YEARS LATER, THEY BROUGHT IT BACK BUT ONLY FOR MURDERS COMMITTED BY THOSE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.

NO ONE IS EVER EXECUTED UNDER THAT PROVISION AND IN 1984 IT WAS ABOLISHED AGAIN.

NEXT WEEK WE WILL FOLLOW THE STORIES OF WOMEN HERE IN RHODE ISLAND WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LEAVE THE WORK WORSE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> I FEEL LIKE I HAVE LOST SO MUCH OF MY IDENTITY BECAUSE I'M A MOM 24/7.

>> THE PANDEMIC IS FORCING THOUSANDS OF WOMEN IN RHODE ISLAND TO STEP AWAY FROM THEIR JOBS.

>> MY JOB WAS TO HELP THOSE PATIENTS THAT NEEDED THE MOST.

SO MY HEART WENT IN TWO WAYS, MY FAMILY AND THE PATIENTS I WAS WITH.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT WEDNESDAY HERE ON RHODE ISLAND PBS.

I'M MICHELE SAN MIGUEL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.