Inside City Hall Wednesday, East Providence officials were hosting a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of Cape Verdean independence, when a young man dressed in black stormed into the building, allegedly determined to express his disapproval.
Security camera footage shows an American flag and a Cape Verdean flag being tossed out the front door. Then the man in black reemerges and proceeds to stomp on the flag of Cape Verde.
Local police have since identified the suspect as 27-year-old Joey Marsden of Manville. He faces charges of vandalism, disorderly conduct, and weapons possession.
Police say Marsden had a 6-inch knife and a large Nazi flag when they arrested him.
Local authorities are working with the state attorney general’s office, seeking to enhance the misdemeanor charges as possible hate crimes.
“Our city is absolutely against any acts of hatred,” said Patricia Resende, chief of staff to East Providence mayor Bob DaSilva.
“We want to make it very clear to the community and to the region that this type of behavior is not accepted here in East Providence,” she said.
About 1,700 Cape Verdean-Americans live in East Providence. The community has deep roots in the region, dating back before the turn of the 20th century. Cape Verde is an island nation off the coast of West Africa.
Rhode Island is second only to Massachusetts in the size of Cape Verdean population. According to a University of Rhode Island study, an estimated 18,000 Cape Verdeans live here, with the largest concentration in the vicinity of Fox Point in Providence.
Sara Monteiro, a Providence artist of Cape Verdean ancestry, told The Public’s Radio Morning Host Luis Hernandez. “I hope he got his tantrum out of his body. I hope that it costs him a lot.
“We are focused on celebration, and there is nobody that can take that focus from us,” said Moneiro, who is performing in a celebration of Cape Verdean independence this weekend in Washington D.C.
The suspect in this incident could face jail time if authorities are able to enhance his charges as hate crimes. Under state law, Marsden would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days behind bars for each enhanced count on which he’s convicted.
Marsden has not yet entered a plea.
