06-07-2025
'A despicable act of hatred': Man arrested for stomping on Cape Verdean flag
EAST PROVIDENCE — A man with a Nazi flag was arrested on July 2 for stomping on a Cape Verdean flag during a ceremony at City Hall, according to the police.
The incident was a "despicable act of hatred," East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva said in a statement.
East Providence held a flag-raising ceremony on July 2 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Cape Verde's independence from Portugal. According to the police, Joey Marsden, 27, of Lincoln showed up at City Hall on a moped while the celebration was taking place inside the building, and threw both the American flag and the Cape Verdean flag on the ground.
Marsden then proceeded to stomp on the Cape Verdean flag, according to eyewitnesses and surveillance video.
The police stopped Marsden on his moped a short distance from City Hall. During the arrest, they discovered that he had a 6-inch knife and a Nazi flag in his possession. He was charged with vandalism, disorderly conduct and possession of a prohibited weapon.
"Our agency takes these acts of vandalism seriously and will pursue hate crime enhancements when warranted," said Michael Rapoza, acting chief of the East Providence Police Department. "I'd like to thank the ceremony attendees for alerting the police and our officers who responded quickly and apprehended the suspect. There is no place for this type of behavior in our city.'
In a statement, the East Providence Police Department said that it is working with the state attorney general's office to determine whether Marsden will face additional hate crime enhancements.
'The City of East Providence takes great pride in being a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community for all,' DaSilva said in a statement. 'There is no room in this city for acts of hatred and vandalism. Our administration condemns all hateful acts and will continue to make it abundantly clear that East Providence is an inclusive community where hate is neither welcome nor tolerated.'
Court records show that Marsden was arraigned July 3 and pleaded not guilty. He was released on $3,000 bail and will next appear in court on July 23.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Man with Nazi flag arrested for stomping on Cape Verdean flag
