Red Ink Community Library in Providence vandalized ahead of Red Books Day
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — A community library in Providence was victim to vandalism Monday night.
Leaders of the Red Ink Community Library said the vandals threw bricks through the window. Members of the library are calling it a hate crime committed by neo-Nazis.
It comes the night before the 175th anniversary of the publication of "The Communist Manifesto," which is a political pamphlet promoting communism.
"It makes me pretty angry, frustrated and annoyed," said David Raileanu, director of Red Ink Community Library.
This wasn't the first time the library was targeted. Around this time last year on Red Books Day, there was a group of protestors outside the library. They caused commotion and waved flags with swastikas on them.
"After that we imposed some security measures to make sure something like that didn't happen again, which I'm pretty sure these people knew we had done that which is why they showed up the night before the event," said Red Ink's President Alex Herbert.
Following the brick incident and during Tuesday's meeting on Red Books Day, they had a police officer on site and members of the Bay State John Brown Gun Club.
"We have a lot of comrades tonight keeping an eye on the area," said Herbert.
The window has since been fixed.
Raileanu encouraged anyone with different views to have open conversations.
"We do a lot of reading, a lot of discussion, and a lot of open conversation back and forth," he said. "Anyone interested in learning more about what we do here should come just have a conversation and not throw bricks in the middle of the night."