Woman Assaulted by President of Catholic Citizenship at Worcester Rally

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Primary Contact: Tom Lang, Co-Director
Office: (978) 768-3830
Cell: (978) 335-0477

Secondary Contact: Aaron Toleos, Co-Director
Cell: (978) 821-4620

Woman Assaulted by President of Catholic Citizenship at Worcester Rally

Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, December 17, 2006 -- Tom Lang, director of the gay rights organization KnowThyNeighbor.org and a counter-demonstrator at Saturday's anti-gay marriage rally in Worcester, denounces the assault made by Larry Cirignano, President of Catholic Citizenship, on Sarah Loy, a 27-year-old marriage equality supporter.

As reported by the Worcester Telegram and Gazette:

"Loy... was holding a sign in defense of same-sex marriage amid a sea of green 'Let the People Vote' signs when Larry Cirignano of Canton, who heads the Catholic Citizenship group, ran into the crowd, grabbed her by both shoulders and told her, 'You need to get out. You need to get out of here right now.' Mr. Cirignano then pushed her to the ground, her head slamming against the concrete sidewalk."

Cirignano then proceeded back to the podium area where Former Ambassador to the Vatican Ray Flynn was about to speak.

Lang, who attended all four of the so-called "Democracy Rallies" held over the last week by anti-gay marriage activists, reacted by saying, "The attack on Ms. Loy was nasty and disgraceful.  Mr. Cirignano should be ashamed and has shown that he doesn't belong in a leadership position."

Lang said that he wasn't totally surprised by this act of violence noting that "the rhetoric and actions of the anti-gay marriage activists has reached a fever pitch since their amendment was sidelined by the 109 legislators that voted to recess the Constitutional Convention." He notes that VoteOnMarriage.org, sponsor of the anti-gay marriage amendment, has even printed Wild West, Dead-or-Alive-style Wanted posters that have the legislators' photos and home phone numbers on them. And the legislators' home addresses have been posted on the VoteOnMarriage.org website where anti-gay marriage supporters are instructed to urge the legislators to take a vote "or face the potential consequences."

Lang finds great irony in the fact that Ms. Loy was assaulted for exercising her rights to free speech at what was supposed to be a "Democracy Rally."  "This confirms what most of us already know to be true --" said Lang, "that the anti-gay marriage activists only believe in Democracy when it suits their religious agenda and not when it means protecting the civil rights of a minority."

More information is available on the KnowThyNeighbor.org blog, listed as one of the Top 25 National Gay Community Blogs by the Advocate Magazine.

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Comments

[The Patriot]

Mayhem arranged and produced by Tom Lang and Aaron Toleos.

Cameras at the ready, chants all rehearsed, and the thrill of the fight in the air, KTN got the story they wanted.

Congratulations on your hate baiting farce.

Now, lets just imagine the reverse of what happened. What would have happened if a pro-marriage supporter placed themselves in front of the Mittler sign at the Statehouse?

wha wha whaaaaaa

mama always told me to not poke the hornets nest or to stop pulling the dogs ears

it is dangerous

you wanted violence

You GOT violence

and press releases

and video

and no sympathy

[Cherie Johnson]

Patriot your comments were uncalled for.

Nobody wants violence on EITHER side.

Your post isn't remotely funny or true.

[Lula]

"you wanted violence

You GOT violence"

hatemongering spinmeister

Shame on you.

[Lula]

Again, a clear indication that the people at Vote on Marriage, including the anti-patriot, THE PATRIOT, promote violence against gays and lesbians.

Incidents like this will increase, indeed.

And according to the remorseless, bigoted anti-family PATRIOT, we have it coming.

He should be ashamed to consider himself a Christian.

Shame. On all of them.

Yes, PATRIOT, as I've always said, you contribute directly to acts of violence and hostility committed against gay and lesbian people.

You are nothing short of a hatemonger, especially given the above comment.

THIS IS THE *TRUE* VOICE OF THE MAN WHO CRIED AT THE CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, WHILE WATCHING WITH HIS CHILDREN:

"you wanted violence

You GOT violence"

If anyone ever needed more solid proof of what a hatemongering hypocrite, unaware of his own staggering flaws and inner hatred, well, folks, there ya have it.

Enough, PATRIOT.

ENOUGH.

[Lula]

I have made an active attempt to take a hiatus during the holiday season, all, due to a difficult family issue I've needed to deal with, but this news has riled me, and I needed to chime in.

The opposition repeatedly burns bridges and does itself in.

It's OVER. They've shot themselves in the foot twice in the same number of weeks.

First, by suing the individual legislators, then by making up "most wanted" posters similar to the ones our cowboy president made up when he started the war, and now, by a Catholic leader committing an act of violence (“It was definitely assault and battery,” said Ronal C. Madnick, director of the Worcester County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts.) against a person protecting marriage equality.

PATRIOT et al, every day, more and more, you expose yourselves to be the TRUE extremists, and your true colors - your unadulterated contempt and hatred for gays and lesbians - are now seen by our Commonwealth with stunning clarity.

[The Patriot]

blah blah blah

"assaulted"

"premeditated"

give us a break

rhe Worcester cops didn't seem to think so

If the legislature had voted 5 years ago we wouldn't be protesting - although you probably would and the Worcester cops would have been helping their constituents fight crime in their under policed city.

Tom Lang and his hate groups went to Worcester to start trouble and did just that.

Loy was not protesting peacefully, she was their to intimidate and bring on a confrontation. She was disrupting a peaceful protest and deserved to be told to leave or removed. She lied about being assaulted and has exaggerated the incident for the cameras and press releases. The cops don't have time for such bs

talk about spin

[Lula]

Lies.

"you wanted violence

You GOT violence"

You've acknowledged there was violence and you are now here ACTIVELY JUSTIFYING IT and PROMOTING IT.

ENOUGH, PATRIOT. ENOUGH.

Now, run along, and grab a box of Kleenex while you do...I think the Smurfs are on in a few minutes.

[Cherie Johnson]

"Loy was not protesting peacefully, she was their to intimidate and bring on a confrontation."

Where in ANY news story did it state this?

Where does it say anywhere that a 210pound man can push a woman to the ground.

Jesus...put the whole "gay" thing aside....no person has the right to put their hands on another, regardless of whether or not you think she was being rude.

Patriot...what you are implying is crap.

Loy didn't deserve to get pushed and nobody was asking for violence.

The simple fact is that Cirignano was probably frustrated and he over-reacted and used REALLY BAD judgement when he assaulted Loy.

What happened to that woman was WRONG.

Plain and simple.

Now just admit that he had no right to do what he did and let's move on instead of the usual name calling.

[The Patriot]

I was there and saw the whole thing

she wasn't pushed and certainly wasn't assaulted

[Lula]

Amen, Cherie.

I mean, PATRIOT, know when to give up, man, because you just come off as the same ole wackjob you've always been.

A Catholic LEADER displayed physical aggression, an act of anger and hate, YES, and it's now out there for everyone to see: more of your side's flagrant hypocrisy.

Let me ask you, PATRIOT, do you think it an act of intimidation and hate to publish at your website the names and home addresses of those Legislators who voted to recess?

You're so against Tom and Aaron posting YOUR name.

What's the difference?

Your way of thinking would suggest that your organization has lowered itself to our methods, correct?

Cirignano's aggression and frustration is yet another sign that your side knows it is going down and has very little chance of regaining any ground whatsoever.

People, whether it be at work, at holiday parties, at lunch, at dinner engagements, are discussing this issue and your side is just becoming laughable.

Until someone gets hurt.

And in your own words:

""you wanted violence

You GOT violence"

You are a hatemonger and you've nailed the final coffin in your credibility.

[Lula]

You're such a liar, PATRIOT.

If there were no act of violence, you wouldn't have said:

""you wanted violence

You GOT violence"

***BIG. FAT. LIAR.***

[Cherie Johnson]

ok then please explain why all the news outlets and countless witnesses said he came out and pushed her?

Is everyone lying? OR are just the "gay" folks lying?

Did she lose her footing perhaps??

Just how did this woman happen to end up on the ground hitting her head on the pavement in the process?

Just what did you see Patriot?

[Cherie Johnson]

Did she get struck by a "bolt of lightning"?

[The Patriot]

well lets see

a scan of the Tom Lang newswire shows the following headlines

"gay marriage advocate beaten at mass rally"
From 365Gay.com

"Catholic leader takes down gay nup protester"
Queerty.com

my personal favorite -

"Papal assault on pro-gay woman"
gay.com UK

The Globe at least took an impartial view with

"Catholic group leader denies pushing activist"

These are the 5 stories on the google newswire and they are very telling

Also interesting enough - Lang is quoted in every article

and the Globe story is now the most emailed piece along with all the other gay propaganda pieces that Lang and his cronies are busy emailing to each other

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that this was a staged event and a new low for gay activists

Why didn't you have the balls to come into the crowd yourself Tom?

You thought a woman could come in and spew her hatred without being challenged?

It would have made a better story and video if it was you - the tortured gay millionaire bloodied and bruised - to quote the 365k article

You WANTED violence and you GOT it - even though it was fake

[The TRUE Patriot]

wow
Patriot, if you were a real pariotm you would be working to stop such things. The way you are acting is childish and does not inmprove our country in anyway. That is very, un-pariotic of you. Instead of delighting in someones assualt, you should be there to help make sure such things don't happen again. Remember, LET FREEDOM RING. All true patriots would want to LET FREEDOM RING.

[Joe S]

What accounts for her BLOOD on the sidewalk Patriot??? Tell us Patriot...was that just a bottle of ketchup she brought with her so she could claim she was assaulted? PLEASE!

If you don't think the Worcester Police will not arrest this man when she presses charges...you would be WRONG AGAIN...which should be nothing new for you as you are ALWAYS WRONG...AND ALWAYS DELUSIONAL!

You are the violent ones...and this PROVES it to the world!

You and your minnions are SO UTTERLY PISSED that you have TOTALLY LOST and that GAY MARRIAGE IS GOING NO WHERE IN MASS...just like it didn't go ANYWHERE IN CANADA....

In 2 weeks this entire matter will be closed FOREVER and you will have to live with it FOREVER. Bigots and homophobes like you and those pius "catholic" leaders have long used violence and discrimination as a tool to get their way...those days are over....the nation KICKED OUT THE EVANGELICALS AND CATHOLIC CHURCH ON 11/7/06....AND THE ANTI GAY MOVEMENT HAS NOW BEEN KICKED OUT OF MASSACHUSETTS AS WELL!

WHAT IS THAT GLOW ON THE HORIZON PRAYTELL....WHY IT IS THE GLORIOUS SUNSET OF POWER...THE SUNSET OF THE POWER OF KRIS MINNEAU...OF VOTEONMARRIAGE.ORG OF THE PEDOPHILE HARBORING CATHOLIC CHURCH AND EVANGELICAL FILTH....AH...HOW WE ALL BASK IN ITS LIGHT OF FREEDOM AND EQUALITY!

Say what you wish PATRIOT...it will avail you NOTHING.....NOTHING....NOTHING!
BAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!

[Cherie Johnson]

Hello????

Patriot: You stated you were there and saw everything.

"I was there and saw the whole thing

she wasn't pushed and certainly wasn't assaulted

Posted by: The Patriot | December 18, 2006 at 10:44 AM"

So...I am asking. What did you see?

If she wasn't "pushed" to the ground then how did she get there?

[Joe S]

Cherie...I fully doubt that he was there...one thing about Patriot is is that he is a LIAR...like all of his "kind" are.

[Lula]

Liars, indeed, Joe.

Saying they're a grass roots organization but hired a firm outside the state to aggressively, unethically collect signatures...but, don't you know, 170,000 people fought for their voice to be heard?

Haggard. Mineau. PATRIOT.

Liars, all.

They lie at any cost.

[John Hosty]

Patriot, you were not there. You are lying just like you were lying when you said you had Joe's IP address, just like when you said you had filed a lawsuit against Tom Lang, and just like all the other lies you have said.

I WAS there, and you know that. I heard the police talking to her after Larry Cirignano attacked her, and the only reason he was not arrested on the spot was that by law police need to see the attack with their own eyes. We are going to start leaking evidence out as a tease to how much we really have. I believe you will see a picture of her on the ground just after the attack coming out shortly. If Larry was "escorting" her Mrs. Loy out of the crowd, why was she still in the middle of it when he walked away? If he was "escorting" her, why didn't he see her "fall"?

I wonder if he "escorts" his wife like this.

[John Hosty]

Tom Lang is currently talking to Mrs. Loy as I write this, so stay tuned as the information becomes available you know that KTN will update the facts.

[The Patriot]

What must it be like to be caught up in mini media frenzy of your own making?

Pride of knowing you had advanced your cause by any means necessary.

Hate by knowing what you were doing was wrong.

Happiness as you march up to someone and shout at them as they are enjoying their rally.

Fear of knowing that the majority is against you and you must manipulate the media to twist and spin your lies.

Anger as you are told to shut up and have your own rally somewhere else.

Desperation when you know that more and more the people want a say in the definition of marriage.

[John Hosty]

Patriot, you must be speaking into a mirror.

I would expect someone like you to try and defend attacking a woman.

[Lula]

Again, lies.

Oh, PATRIOT, you truly are the definition of pathetic.

I cringe each and every time I think about the fact that you are a role model to your children.

YOU are the desperate ones, and your hateful, bigoted, self-important amendment IS BREATHING ITS LAST BREATH...

AND YOU KNOW IT.

Liar.

[Cherie Johnson]

Patriot, I've heard enough from you for 1 day.

Seriously...if that man pushed her down then he deserves to be punished.

Quit it with your bullshit.

I was giving you the benefit of the doubt, so why don't you do the same for that woman.

As a man you should be outraged that he put his hands on her.

Put the "gay" circumstances aside.

A man pushed a woman down to the ground.