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By VDC staff
WCAX reports that a weekly pro-life prayer gathering organized by parishioners of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Brattleboro was disrupted this week after a man allegedly defaced a sacred image with spray paint in a downtown park.
The incident occurred Tuesday at Pliny Park, where members of the church regularly meet across from Planned Parenthood to pray the Rosary and advocate for what they describe as pro-life intentions.
Parishioners said the group’s image of Our Lady of Guadalupe — a revered figure in Catholic tradition and considered the patroness of the pro-life movement — was vandalized with pink paint during the gathering and is now beyond repair.
“We didn’t know what was happening, but I turned to look and saw pink paint on the image, and I was appalled because we love this image,” said Kerry Morton, a parishioner at St. Michael’s. “I think the Lord gave us peace to just continue to do what we started out to do, which was pray the Rosary.”
Police responded to the scene but were unable to locate a suspect.
“Officers from our evening shift responded; they had taken over call responsibility at that time and looked in the area for someone matching the description,” said Sgt. Jason Hamilton of the Brattleboro Police Department.
Hamilton noted that public spaces like Pliny Park are protected areas for free expression.
“The First Amendment protects activities in these public areas where people are simply expressing themselves,” he said.
Morton said the group has experienced hostility during past gatherings, including verbal harassment and at least one incident involving thrown rocks.
“We get screamed at, we had rocks thrown at us one time, and we have had the finger many times,” she said.
Despite the latest incident and the destruction of the image, Morton said the group holds no ill will toward the suspect.
“Even this young man and anyone who has shown anger towards us, I just want them to know that they have a Mother that loves them,” she said.
Police said the case remains under investigation and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
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Categories: Faith, Public Safety
Leftist, anarchist showing his true colors, pink…the group subject to the attack on their icon, which is private property and in a public space where freedom of expression is permitted are virtuous people simply expressing an opinion on behalf of the most vulnerable humans. Gee, I thought the leftists were always railing about “the vulnerable”? The group holds no ill will toward the suspect, but I sure would hold some ill will if someone threw a rock at me for engaging in lawful, protected free expression. If faced with imminent threat of serious bodily harm from a thrown rock, I may exercise my legal option to defend myself and return fire with a projectile of my own, perhaps much smaller than a rock, but traveling at 1200 ft/sec. Isn’t it wonderful to live in a blue state where leftist anarchists feel so empowered. They curse the President for supposedly acting outside the Constitution, while they physically attack their fellow citizens for availing themselves of their God-given free speech rights. Such hypocrisy from the disgusting moonbats.
Kornheiser Kountry
Vandalism is ok??? Not!!! Get it together Brattleboro… Lawlessness has got to end! Find the criminals and arrest them.
Let’s see. They didn’t leave a patch of rubber on a rainbow crosswalk so this wouldn’t be considered a hate crime…..right?
Great Point John
The sad thing is that people aren’t willing to defend themselves. The police aren’t often in a position for immediate response so open up a can of whop-ass, take the person down hard and then contact the police. You have lots of witnesses to why a response was needed.
The overall leftist, anarchist, antifa leadership has instilled in their blind followers the principle of the “microaggression”. “Microaggression” theory suggests that when person #1 expresses a comment or opinion that person #2 disagrees with, person #2 suffers a stress reaction or is “triggered”. Person #1 may not even intend for their comment to be hurtful or malicious, but well within the confines of free expression. Regardless of the intent of person #1, person #2 may still feel that they have been subjected to an act that causes measurable physiologic stress and is damaging to their body, the equivalent of a physical assault. The “harm” now perceived by Person #2 now justifies in their mind a physical assault upon person #1 or anyone else who shares their viewpoint. By extension, violent acts can now be used by leftists to prevent those they disagree with from being allowed or able to continue uttering “triggering” language.
This is the danger of the overall leftist philosophy. Turning the other cheek only invites more violence. Like any reasonable animal, it is perfectly appropriate to respond with violence when acted upon with violence. Have a lot of friendly witnesses and take a lot of video when you open that justifiable can of whoop-ass.
Police say the suspect “would likely face a disorderly conduct charge.” Yet every time something happens to a Pride flag in this state the authorities seem to start with “we are investigating this as a possible hate crime.” Why are we not hearing that in this case?
The Bennington Banner also reported: Some of the graffiti from the attack was still visible in Pliney Park as a “No Parking” sign was changed to say, “No Praying.”
Why are the Vermont politicians, who seem eager to make public statements or post something on social media condemning certain actions, silent on this?
If we have an established definition of a “hate crime” then this certainly fits the description, especially during a Christian Holy Day period. There was a time when I would compare it to painting a swastika around a Jewish High Holy Day, but in the current environment of leftists routinely and proudly engaging in anti-Semitism, I suppose that is also no big deal in Vermont these days. Just dont deface anything with a rainbow on it, and you should be safe from prosecution.
Sgt. Jason Hamilton of the Brattleboro Police Department said,” “The First Amendment protects activities in these public areas where people are simply expressing themselves.” Well, Sgt. Hamilton, you should know that while they are “simply expressing themselves” it is NOT okay to destroy property of others. I hope they find the culprit and charges are brought.
What would he have to say about the First Amendment Rights of the owner/displayers of the painting, their First Amendment Rights (on two items) are irrelevant?