ACLU Board Member Assaulted by Anti-Gay Marriage Organizer

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The license plate on the van driving CatholicVote.Org, Executive Director Larry Cirignano out of Worcester and on to his next destination read, “MIR”, peace in Russian, but that was far from what Cirignano’s self-named, “Rally for Democracy” brought to Worcester City Hall’s steps.

An estimated 200 people encircled Cirignano and his podium, many holding “Let the People Vote” signs, a reference to the MA State Legislature’s decision on November 9 to recess the constitutional convention instead of voting on an amendment to ban same-sex marriage and allowing the measure to go on the MA ballot in 2008.

But while the verbal harangue’s directed at gay and lesbian community members was to be expected from this group, no one in the crowd expected Cirignano to lash out, assault and knock one of the civil rights demonstrators to the ground.

Early in the event, as the first few speakers shouted from the podium, Sarah Loy a member of the Board of Directors of the ACLU stepped forward. She too had a pre-printed sign, but hers read, “No Discrimination in the Constitution ~ MassEquality.Org”. Hurt and bothered by what the first speakers said, Loy said she felt moved, “I wanted the people that were listening to the speakers to see what our signs said.” “I wasn’t trying to disrupt anything; all I wanted to do was stand on the side so they could see my sign as well.”

It was at that point, in front of the 200 listening to the speakers and several home video cameras that Cirignano angrily came up from behind Loy, grabbed her and shoved her to the ground.

Immediately after the assault took place Loy and others turned to the Worcester Police Officers present at the rally. And while the officers quickly took Loy’s complaint, they responded that since they had not seen the assault happen they couldn’t put Mr. Cirignano under arrest. In fact it was only after the intervention of Ron Madnick, Executive Director of the Worcester ACLU Chapter that officers agreed to take statements from witnesses who had stepped forward. At first officers said they didn’t need to take statements, but faced with Madnick’s and witnesses’ persistence they did. It did not appear though that they spoke with any of the people that videotaped the assault.

The rally continued uninterrupted as Police took Cirignano off to the side to question him. He was unfazed and non-apologetic as he was interviewed and charged.

I spoke with Cirignano after the rally and asked him his side of what happened, “That lady came up to the podium and I escorted her back into the audience.” Given what had transpired, I followed-up to make sure I heard correctly, “Escorted?”, “Yes, escorted”, he replied. Asked if he felt he assaulted her he shot back without hesitation, “Hell, no!” adding,“She’s an actress, she’s a professional actress.”

As the speakers continued, MassEquality supporters rallied alongside, buttressed by a bicycle contingent from Worcester’s Earn-A-Bike. Same sex marriage supporters then remained in front of City Hall as the anti-gay marriage group packed-up their vans and signs. Pastor Judy Hanlon from Hadwen Park Congregational Church was one of several ministers that remained. “We need to re-consecrate this land”, she proclaimed, as the 20 remaining people soon moved from frustration and sadness to song and laughter.

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Police take Sarah Loy's Statement

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Statement

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Police take statement from Holden Street Unitarian Universalist Pastor Rev. Aaron Payson.

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Anti-Gay Marriage Rally

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Earn-A-Bike

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Twenty people from Earn-A-Bike paraded to City Hall in support of Mass Equality and efforts to preserve the right for all to marry in Massachusetts.

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Worcester ACLU

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Mass Equality Rally

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Pastor Hanlon

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Pastor Judith Hanlon from the Hadwen Park Congregational Church was one of several clergy present in defense of gay marriage. Pastor Hanlon played a leadership role this past winter organizing against the anti-gay "Mr. Hetero Contest" held at Mechanics Hall.

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