Complaint Against ACLU Defendant Dropped
Bottom line, the ruling in the Commonwealth vs Cirignano trial proves Sarah Loy had no right to disrupt the “Let the People Vote” rally on December 16, 2006. Therefore, there is no reason to pursue the criminal complaint against her. Here’s the announcement:
Ms. Worthington, a volunteer agent of the Massachusetts Family Institute, today dropped a complaint against defendant Sarah Loy in connection with Loy disturbing a lawful assembly last December 2006. Massachusetts Family Institute held the municipal permit for a “Let the People Vote” rally and Ms. Worthington coordinated the event.
Ms. Loy, a director of the Central Massachusetts Chapter of the ACLU, disrupted the duly permitted rally in front of Worcester City Hall. Ms. Loy infiltrated the crowd and blocked the keynote speaker from audience view by holding a sign contrary to the views of the rally organizers.
In a corresponding case decided on October 21, 2007, defendant Larry Cirignano was cleared of charges by Ms. Loy that Cirignano pushed her out of the podium area, causing her to fall at that rally. Judge David P. Despotopulos’ order in that case, holding that Ms. Loy had no constitutional right to enter into or disrupt the permitted rally, essentially makes the same point as the application for a complaint against Ms. Loy. As was proven in court, Ms. Loy’s fall was accidental on her part, and she was never injured – to which we are all grateful.
Ms. Worthington believes, and the Massachusetts Family Institute concurs, that justice has been served and additional public resources need not be spent on this matter.
As a result of this legal precedent, Massachusetts Family Institute believes that towns and cities where such rallies are held should confine counter protestors to a separate location. This would protect the civil liberties and the safety of all rally speakers, attendees and counter protestors.