Rhode Island General Assembly

You can read it.

On June 29, 2011, Rhode Island General Assembly passed a resolution recommending a posthumous pardon.

Governor Lincoln Chafee signed it at the Old State House in Providence.

167 years after John Gordon was convicted, in that building, the state of Rhode Island stood in that building and said it had been wrong.

I also want stronger accountability for syringe distribution programs operating in Woonsocket, stronger collection and disposal programs, and a clearly identified system residents can use to report discarded needles so they can be removed quickly.

Because much of the law governing syringe service programs is established at the state level, I will be and am working with local members of the Rhode Island General Assembly on legislation aimed at reducing discarded needles and improving accountability.

My position isn't that we should abandon people struggling with addiction.

It is that helping one population should not create an unsafe environment for everybody else.