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.