The transgender daughter of House Minority Whip Katherine Clark has received sentencing after being charged with assault and battery on a police officer, vandalizing property, tagging property, vandalizing a historic monument, and resisting arrest.
In January, Clark’s daughter Riley Dowell, who was born male but now identifies as female, was arrested after assaulting a police officer and defacing a monument at an Antifa riot in Boston.
Dowell was participating in an anti-police protest at the Parkman Bandstand Monument in the Boston Common. When police officers arrived at the scene, they witnessed Dowell spray painting “No Cop City” and “ACAB” (All Cops Are Bastards) on the monument.
According to the Boston Police Department, as officers tried to arrest Dowell, a group of protestors surrounded the officers “while screaming profanities through megaphones on the public street.”
An officer was then “hit in the face and could be seen bleeding from the nose and mouth,” which was allegedly caused by Dowell “flailing her arms” and striking the officer in the face.
Dowell, who was 23 years old at the time, was arrested and charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon, destruction or injury of personal property, and damage of property by graffiti/tagging.
Dowell pled not guilty to these charges.
Acknowledging the arrest, Clark issued a statement that said, “I love Riley, and this is a very difficult time in the cycle of joy and pain in parenting. This will be evaluated by the legal system, and I am confident in that process.”
Clark also brought up Dowell in a speech on the House floor in March on International Trans Day of Visibility.
“Ahead of the Trans Day of Visibility, I rise in honor of a community that is being forced to fight for its very existence. I rise in honor of trans voices that deserve to be heard – not silenced and not criminalized. I rise in honor of trans joy that deserves to be celebrated – not eradicated,” said Clark.
“I rise with unconditional love for my trans daughter, Riley. And I rise in solidarity with every trans American seeking nothing less than their inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness.”
On Wednesday, Dowell was sentenced to a year of probation on the condition she write a letter of apology to the Boston Police officer that was assaulted. Dowell will also be required to complete 30 hours of community service, pay the city back for the cost of cleaning up the graffiti, and continue undergoing therapy.
