by Doug MacGunnigle, WPRO News
The dancing cop won’t be dancing in East Providence this Christmas after all.
East Providence Mayor Thomas Rose told WPRO’s Gene Valicenti Tuesday morning that the retired Providence police officer won’t be dancing in front of city hall this December and a planned city council vote scheduled for Tuesday evening has been taken off the agenda.
“Basically we were trying to add a little joy to our festivities, but at this time it’s best to remind this, take it off the docket and move forward,” Mayor Rose said to Valicenti on Tuesday. “This is a time of happiness and joy for everybody, but there’s too much animosity, too many people upset over this, and that was not our intention.”
LISTEN TO MAYOR THOMAS ROSE’S CONVERSATION WITH GENE BELOW:
Writing on his Facebook page Tuesday morning, Lepore fired back: “People are making an impression of me that isn`t true. You people of color out there know this also, but organizations have an agenda to destroy me because I don`t think like them. Those same people who are against me loved me last year. You were well wishers when I celebrated my 30th year. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. I will be there at city hall E.P. with my wife to speak our piece.”
Lepore had been scheduled to perform at East Providence’s official holiday kick-off ceremony on Sunday, but cancelled when it was learned that “Black Lives Matter” activists would also be present to protest his appearance.
Lepore, who has performed his traffic directing “dancing cop” routine in downtown Providence since 1984 was told by Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare last month that he would not be re-hired by the city this year. Pare says Lepore gave the inaccurate impression he represented the department after getting organizing a protest against Dunkin Donuts involving an employee giving a Providence police officer a coffee cup emblazoned with the “blacklivesmatter” hashtag.
Later Tuesday morning, Lepore called into the John DePetro Show and clashed with Brother Gary, a “Black Lives Matter” activist, and said that he was “pursuing legal action” against the group. Brother Gary told Lepore he would be “hiding in the shadows” and following and challenging Lepore at his public events.
LISTEN BELOW:
