"The Rhode Island State Nurses Association received several threatening social‑media comments from a Middletown resident opposed to our planned vigil tonight for fallen nurse Alex Pretti. These threats referenced the presence of weapons, and out of an abundance of caution for attendees—most of whom are nurses—RISNA and SEIU 1199NE have made the difficult decision to cancel tonight’s gathering. Our mission is to protect and advocate for nurses across the state, and with guidance from the Pawtucket and Middletown Police Departments, we believe the threats are credible and pose too great a risk to proceed.
Even if we cannot meet in person, we can still use our collective voice to advocate as a nursing community.
RISNA and SEIU 1199NE remain unwavering in our commitment to the health and safety of our nurses and our communities, and although it may feel hard to move forward with grassroots advocacy when circumstances like these arise, know this work matters.
Thank you for all the support we received from nurses, neighbors, elected officials, and police departments. It is with your support that we remain committed to providing safety and security to ALL Rhode Islanders.
For additional comment contact: Raquél Pérez, Executive Director of RI State Nurses Association at hello@risna.org.
About SEIU 1199NE
District 1199 SEIU New England represents 29,000 health care and service workers in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Southeastern Massachusetts. In Rhode Island, 1199 SEIU NE represents 5,000 members. 1199 SEIU NE is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) – a union of over 2 million members across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. SEIU has been a national leader in pushing the growing Fight for $15 and a Union movement.
About the Rhode Island State Nurses Association
The Rhode Island State Nurses Association (RISNA), a constituent member of the American Nurses Association (ANA), is the authority on matters concerning nursing practice in the state of Rhode Island. RISNA is dedicated to the promotion, advancement, and protection of nurses while creating a healthier Rhode Island.