Protests show no sign of slowing down outside Richard Gardner’s home

For the third straight night angry protesters in Washington Park gathered outside the home of their newest neighbor, a child rapist, and they’re hoping a new piece of legislation will prevent anything like this from happening again in their neighborhood.

Councilor Luis Aponte introduced legislation Thursday that would increase the minimum distance a sex offender can be from a school to 500 feet. The legislation that was sponsored by 13 councilors would also apply to daycares, which neighbors say are everywhere around Gardner.

Protesters are outside the home because they are disgusted by the crimes Gardner committed in the 1980’s when he kidnapped and brutally raped children. But an underlying message of frustration was being sent that residents are sick of sex offenders moving into the city.

“When we think about the number of sex offenders we have in the city, over 500, this is an issue we need to think about not just because of this situation but city-wide,” Aponte said. “25 to 40 sex offenders just in this community.”

Aponte’s legislation will head to the Ordinance Committee where a hearing on it could come as soon as next week.

Meanwhile, neighbors say the protests will continue every day, with demonstrations taking place three times a day starting Sunday.