Anti-vax mandate group, ‘gubernatorial candidate,’ protest inside Providence City Hall ahead of vaccine mandate

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE)- “Independent candidate for Gov.,” Paul Rianna Jr. and the “Rhode Island Freedom Fighters,” an anti-vaccine mandate group, protested inside Providence City Hall on Tuesday afternoon.

Rianna said that the group was there to protest the impending COVID-19 vaccine mandate that Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza announced last week.

The mandate requires all city workers to have one dose of the vaccine by Jan. 14, and both doses by Feb. 28.

Rianna and the group organized a protest outside of City Hall for 1 p.m.

The few dozen protestors then decided to walk into City Hall, according to ABC6 crews on the scene.

Crews said that the bunch approached City Council, at which point the doors were locked ahead of them.

They then made their way to the City Council president’s office, which was also locked.

This is a developing story, more information will be added as it becomes available.