UNITED STATES ELECTIONS TAINTED BY LOCAL MAYOR
Providence Mayor defies Election Civil Rights with Impunity

Providence , Rhode Island, USA- RUSHPRNEWS
Wilbur W. Jennings Jr., a city ward
committee chairman who disagrees politically with Providence Mayor David N.
Cicilline was forced to leave the polling place under threat of arrest by Police
during the Federal Election November 7th.

Jennings believes that this effectively denied his first ammendment right to free
speech and to assemble, and an elderly couple their right to vote with assistance,
and the people to have heard Jennings as they came to vote. "I feel like I live in a foreign dictatorship," Jennings remarked on Friday.

Despite Jennings humiliation and violation of rights to voters in the Providence
8th ward, the U.S. Government has not responded or taken any action on this issue
as they have elsewhere in the world.

The Mayor loudly took issue with the poll warden, Ed Hicks who was about to allow
an elderly couple to vote with assistance of another after they filled out the
proper forms. Jennings was asked by the couple to help as the assisted voting
machine was not working.

Mayor Cicilline protested vigorously, and when he found the Warden immovable on
the issue even after telling him he was also an attorney, the Mayor openly
threatened Jennings with arrest if he helped the couple vote. Jennings protested,
and the Mayor then repeated the threat several times loudly drawing a crowd.

Cicilline successfully won reelection that day, and is a member of the local Bar
Association. He is also a member of the US Conference of Mayors and was an
international elections observer for the municipal and congressional elections in
the Dominican Republic this year.

Cicilline had actively recruited someone to run in the ward against party endorsed
Democratic Ward Committee chairman Wilbur W. Jennings Jr. for city council in the
Democratic Primary.

Jennings , who lost the primary after taking election improprieties to the Board
of Elections and the Rhode Island Supreme Court in turn supported another democrat
who was running independently in the General Election. Jennings and many in the
ward continue to claim the Mayor's candidate does not live in the ward, and was
drafted to run so the Mayor could more easily control the City Council.

After going back outside with Jennings who continually explained that this was how
elderly and disabled people could vote since the assisted voting machine was not
working, a State Rep gave his opinion that it was indeed done that way.

When Providence Police arrived, they spoke first with Mayor Cicilline and then
went to where Jennings was lawfully standing and ordered him from the area under
threat of arrest. A witness reported afterward that "The Mayor was throwing a
tantrum."

Jennings has filed a complaint with the Rhode Island Board of Elections, has
contacted the United States Attorney General's Office and is waiting to hear from
the local United States Attorney in the matter.

"This was a very important Federal election," Jennings said later. "This Mayor is
nothing but a city official up for reelection. He violated the rights of a lot of
people doing this."


His initial complaint to the Board is available for reporters online at
www.digitalgurune.com/jennings/mayor


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Other Contact Information:
City Hall, Providence , Rhode Island - (401) 421-7740
Karen Southern, Press Secretary for Mayor Cicilline (401) 421-2489 x752
Board of Elections, Providence , Rhode Island (401) 222-2345
Governor of Rhode Island , Donald Carcieri (401) 222-2080
US Attorney's Office, Rhode Island (401) 709-5000

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