Anyone wondering why Larry Cirignano got a promotion and a new job in DC? The Catholic Church was getting him outa Dodge before this news hit:
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(From Bay Windows)
Worcester Police call for civil rights charges against Cirignano
Worcester police are recommending that Larry Cirignano, former head of
Catholic Citizenship, be charged with civil rights violations for
allegedly shoving Sarah Loy to the ground during an anti-marriage rally
in Worester Dec. 16. Loy was demonstrating in favor of the rights of
same-sex couples to marry.
After an investigation that lasted more than two months Worcester Police are recommending that former Catholic Citizenship executive director Larry Cirignano be charged with both civil rights violations and assault and battery in connection to an alleged altercation at a Dec. 16 rally for VoteOnMarriage.org in Worcester. Cirignano, one of the speakers at the rally in support of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, allegedly shoved Sarah Loy, a counter-protestor who supports same-sex marriage, to the ground (see “When Push Comes To Shove,” Dec. 21, 2006). In the week following the incident Worcester Police spokesperson Kerry Hazelhurst said that the department had filed a criminal complaint with the clerk magistrate’s office to determine if there was probable cause to charge Cirignano with misdemeanor assault and battery, but with the investigation concluded Hazelhurst said the department has decided to push for civil rights charges as well.
“Through the D.A.’s office they’re going to go forward with civil rights violations and assault and battery charges … [Police] investigated everything and talked to all involved and determined that the elements for civil rights violations were met, and they decided to go with it. It was an extensive and lengthy investigation,” said Worcester Police spokesperson Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst.
Worcester Police on the scene at the rally did not directly witness the altercation, but several other eyewitnesses have come forward. One of those witnesses, Worcester Telegram and Gazette reporter Richard Nangle, broke the story about the incident in his coverage of the rally. He told Bay Windows in December that he saw Cirignano shove Loy and that her head landed on the curb right at his feet.
Hazelhurst declined to give specific details about why police believed the civil rights charges were warranted, citing the ongoing legal proceedings. Last week Cirignano told Bay Windows that his case will be heard before the clerk magistrate’s office Feb. 20 to determine whether there is probable cause to proceed with the charges against him. Penalties for a civil rights charge range from up to $1000 or up to one year of jail time, or some combination of both.
Last week Cirignano announced that he had stepped down from his leadership post at Catholic Citizenship, one of the key partners in the VoteOnMarriage.org coalition, to head up a new Catholic political organization in Washington, D.C. (see “Under Fire For Alleged Assault, Catholic Citizenship Leader Takes D.C. Post,” Feb. 1, 2007).
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Aaron Toleos