Rhode Island police officer accused of 'violently' attacking a Black woman at a Roe v. Wade protest pleaded not guilty

• The Rhode Island cop who is accused of attacking a Black woman at a Roe v. Wade protest pleaded not guilty.
• Jeann Lugo was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct, per local news.

The Rhode Island police officer accused of physically assaulting a Black woman at a Roe v. Wade Rally pleaded not guilty last week.

Jeann Lugo, a Republican who was running for State Senate, made the plea on Friday after he was charged in connection to an incident where he allegedly struck his Democrat political opponent, Jennifer Rourke, last month, WLNE reported.

The incident occurred at a protest outside the State House on June 24 after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 ruling. Rourke shared a video on social media stating that Lugo, who was off-duty, "violently attacked" her during a confrontation.

"This is what it is to be a Black woman running for office, she tweeted. "I won't give up."

The day after the incident, the Providence Police Department announced that they placed the officer on paid administrative leave amid an investigation. He was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct, the Providence Journal reported.

The department's Police Chief Hugh Clements called Lugo's actions "disgusting" and called for him to be fired, WPRI reported.

"I have lost confidence in your capacity to and ability to exercise self-control, and to conduct yourself in a civil, respectful, and professional manner," Clements said in a notice obtained by the outlet.

In a since-deleted tweet, Lugo said that he dropped out of the Senate race, according to WLNE.