BLM R.I. to Sen. Whitehouse: dissociate from beach club or resign

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – The head of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island weighed-in on the Senator Whitehouse Bailey’s Beach controversy on Wednesday.

He told ABC6 the senator and his family needed to either cut ties with the exclusive beach club within days or he needs to resign.

“It will be really, really, really astonishing to see what we’re going to say and what we’re going to do,” Brother Gary Dantzler, executive director of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, said.

Sen. Whitehouse put out a statement just hours before the ABC6 interview with Brother Dantzler, defending his association with the mostly white beach club in Newport, saying in part: “There have been calls for me to resign from the club, which I understand. However, I have no membership to resign, nor will I ask my wife or any other family members to do so.”

Whitehouse then going on to say he and his family are trying to make changes at the exclusive clubs they belong to in the state.

“Chances are he might bring in, again, the bourgeoisie people of color that are not connected with the African-American people that are in the communities that are poor and low-income that can’t speak for no one,” Dantzler said.

Bailey’s Beach club also speaking out, on Tuesday, putting out this statement telling the ProJo in part:

“Over many years, club members and their families have included people of many racial, religious, and ethnic backgrounds from around the world who come to Newport every summer.”

Dantzler told ABC 6 he is not buying it and is waiting on Whitehouse to take action.

“I think he has an opportunity to show his true colors and what he’s made of,” Dantzler said.

Bailey’s Beach club put out that statement to the ProJo about diversity within the club, but also saying their membership information is private.