Dancing Cop Threatens Lawsuits, Opponents Blast Comments
Wednesday, December 02, 2015
"Dancing Cop" Tony Lepore Sr. has said he is considering legal action, following being taken off the East Providence Town Council docket Tuesday night for consideration of working over the holidays.
"They took it off the docket. After I put it on Facebook that I was going down there. Coincidence I don`t think so. The Mayor of E.P was the only one that still wanted me, but the council all were against it. The same council that was all for it. They caved. I am considering a law suit, and I am under advisement not to say more," said Lepore.
"There could be several parties that may be involved. I am a civilian and my income could be taken from me for the days to come into 2016. I am not rich, " said Lepore. "I compensate my pension with my gigs. I am a Trade Mark Co. and a civilian, and I depend on my business to supplement my income."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOpponents Blast Comments
Earlier in the day, Lepore posted on Facebook following the news from East Providence, writing, "People are making an impression of me that isn't true...you people of color out there know this also."
"It speaks volumes that he can't fathom how people of all races can be in solidarity against him. Or, he's looking for more attention [from the media]," said Rodrigo Pimental of East Providence. "I'm starting to see him less of a racist, and more of a person who is just continually pandering to the media."
Jim Vincent with the NAACP Providence Branch, who had been at the protest in East Providence on Sunday against Lepore performing, said Lepore's message was a "poor choice of words" -- and that he hoped people would move on.
"Look, it's the holiday season, people want peace and unity. I want to see the deescalation of everything," said Vincent. "But when you say 'you people of color,' come on, everyone knows that's not acceptable."
"Look, I think Tony's a nice guy, but he's in over his head, and he's unaware of time we're living in," continued Vincent. "He's living in Ozzie and Harriet, Leave it to Beaver. This isn't 1957. Nor would we want it to be. That wasn't the perfect world back then that people think it was."
"He's saying #BlackLivesMatter is some organized effort that is anti-police, and that is not the case," said Vincent. "All I'm doing, we're doing, is when we say that black lives matter, we're just concerned about young black men in the community who are unarmed, and how they're treated. Right now, it doesn't look like black lives matter."
"So let's not change the subject. Do black lives matter matter in the police context? That's what we need to be talking about," said Vincent.
Community Reacts
"To start his comments today with "you people of color"...seriously? So disrespectful," said Providence resident Gloria Johnson. "I really want to believe that it is ignorance on his part -- which is nothing to brag about ). Because if he said that with the intent that is usually meant with that phrase, to anger (he succeeded) and to humiliate (which he did not succeed in doing). I think it makes us more determined than ever to ensure that not one penny of our tax money is spent paying him."
A protest was held at Crescent Park Carousel on Sunday, after Lepore backed out of the holiday event.
"I have attended East Providence high school, and I am a active member on the "Neighborhood Park Day Committee" in East Providence. I have participated in many community events in my city," said Fonseca. "I Just don't understand why the town of East Providence would bring this kind of negative attention to our town. Especially when the City of Providence had let Mr. Lepore go and terminated his services. At a time when racial tensions across the country are running high we need to focus on "unity" in our communities and bring better race relations amongst one another. I will attend the city council meeting in my hometown tonight. I am a "hometown" girl filled with Townie pride."
Updated Tuesday 5:14 p.m.
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