LETTERS

'Not Warwick's finest moment'

Posted 6/11/19

To the Editor; On May 30th, I attended the fundraiser for Sen. Mark McKenney, with my husband. The behavior of the firefighters at Iggy's was beyond appalling. I am a retired Warwick teacher and union member. I have participated in many pickets and

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in
LETTERS

'Not Warwick's finest moment'

Posted

To the Editor:

On May 30th, I attended the fundraiser for Sen. Mark McKenney, with my husband. The behavior of the firefighters at Iggy's was beyond appalling.

I am a retired Warwick teacher and union member. I have participated in many pickets and demonstrations over the years, supporting our union positions. None were similar to these firefighters' tactics.

Not only did they get in our faces, and try to intimidate us, but they acted the same way to anyone who came to the restaurant. Customers were simply trying to come in and have dinner. It was childish. It was bullying.

It was a sad episode to witness.

When we left, we dealt with the same types of interactions. Restaurant patrons should not have to wiggle their way through a howling scrum of dissidents, whether it's to have a quiet seaside dinner or attend a political gathering.

Unfortunately, no police appeared to be controlling the crowd. It was not Warwick's finest moment.

This was a protest, not a picketing situation. There is no contract

dispute. There is no labor action. These people have every right to protest the Senator's vote and statements, but the manner in which they were picketing was simply wrong.

And the protesters didn't even know that Sen. McKenney had apologized, long before the event, for any offense his remarks might have given. Their leadership should have told them that.

I spoke to a section of the crowd as we left. I told them that my dad was not only a firefighter, but the last Warwick firefighter to die on duty.

I told them that my Dad, Captain Albert Genever, would not approve of their tactics. He would not support the kind of universal harassment being rained on anyone who dared enter Iggy's Boardwalk that night.

All they wanted to do was challenge me on that, and get in my face. I told them to go back and look at the fallen firefighter's memorial - that bears his name. Then I walked away... with tears in my eyes.

The volume and intensity were over the top. But it appeared to be more of a party for the firefighters at Iggy's. They were "flexing their muscles" while enjoying a nice summer evening – all at the expense of the restaurant owner, the workers (a number had to be sent home) and customers.

I'm sure there were many decent people that night. Probably many dads that support the anti-bullying programs at their kids' schools. It seemed to be a "mob mentality" that got away from them. While I'm certain that many of these people would never act that way if they were elsewhere, when they were with the crowd, they seemed to have no inhibitions.

I know that Sen. McKenney genuinely supports our men and women in uniform, who put themselves at risk to keep us safe. I believe he handled this situation with grace and humility. He makes us all extremely proud to call him our friend and our Senator.

Susan Quaine Remick

Warwick

Comments

11 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • Cat2222

    Susan,

    I couldn't agree with you more. It was rather eye-opening to see the FF reacting this way and causing trouble for patrons trying to get in to eat. They had no idea what was going on and shouldn't have been subjected to this treatment. I had family down from up north and wanted to take the to the RI Institution of Iggy's. As you can probably tell, we never made it past the stop sign.

    Please see below a comment made from James, a FF, regarding the protest from a letter to the editor from June 5, 2019. I guess stating the point was well taken doesn't include everyone else that was there just minding their business. Indeed, it wasn't their finest moment. Hopefully, our point will be well taken and it won't happen again.

    James

    Cat, the unions issue has nothing to do with his vote. It had everything to do with his comments. Yes I heard he called the unions E Board. They told him (prior to his event) make a public statement and apologize and there will be no picket. While he did not do that prior, he did this week. I believe there will be no more pickets of his events. We support those who support us, plain and simple. Many important people showed up for the event and did not cross it. Our point was well taken.

    Wednesday, June 5

    Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Report this

  • Norm88

    Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

    Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Typical WFD scumbag bully tactics. All big tough guys in public when they have their buddies with them, unlike on the Beacon sight when they are always anonymous and do not have the guts to state who they are. They continue to set the bar of respect lower and lower.

    Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    I was there at Iggy’s, no one got In anyone’s face. This letter to the editor is not a very truthful one.

    Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Report this

  • Reality

    The WFD aka thugs were at it again. No respect was afforded restaurant patrons and people attending a political function. Nice Job WFD. Their behavior is nothing new to citizens that have attended city council meetings.

    Everyone knows its either the WFD way or the highway. They expect people to respect them...what a joke.

    If I was a member of the WFD I would be ashamed. What an example to the younger generation...if you don't get your way just intimidate people.

    The WFD lack of manners is the norm not the exception.

    BTW...Sue...the Warwick Teachers followed the WFD playbook during contract negotiations. Led by Karen Bachus, taxpayers were yelled down and rudely treated when they disagreed with the Warwick Teachers' Union position.

    With the exception of the Warwick Police Union, the conduct of the unions in Warwick is deplorable.

    The only reason they get away with it is because the Mayor, city council and school committee have no backbone.

    Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Report this

  • Daydreambeliever

    Well I must say the WFD received many standing ovations during the Gaspee parade this past weekend. Not one heckler just loud applause.

    Makes me smile :)

    Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Just pay your taxes and shut up. We are the elite, you are the suckers that pay for us. Keep that in mind.

    Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    I see someone wants to impersonate me. Real childish Stacia

    Wednesday, June 12, 2019 Report this

  • davebarry109

    They are rapidly losing respect. They have too much time on their hands. Take the beds away like the mayor of N. Providence is threatening.

    Wednesday, June 12, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    “Rapidly losing respect”. Lol, top comment of the year. Actually it’s quite the opposite but we will let the people speak for us. Sorry Dave

    Wednesday, June 12, 2019 Report this

  • RISchadenfreude

    Asshats. Don't let the behavior of a few clowns shape your opinion of the whole department.

    Friday, June 14, 2019 Report this