Recently,  Joe Rizoli, a notorious anti-immigrant racist cable TV host in Framingham, MA, where I am an organizer, falsely accused a priest and one of our local leaders, of “assault and battery.”  It was a publicity grab by Rizoli.  When I asked a local Framing ham Selectman (Town official) to pass a resolution praising Father Pranzo (the priest), he told me he thought it best to just ignore the Rizoli’s.  I disagree.  And so we held a rally and prayer vigil outside the District Court the day of the priest’s hearing.  About 40 people came, including two State Representatives, several pastors, priests and rabbis.

All the clergy wanted to come, even though it was the one day off a week several of them had.  They came in the cold and snow to speak out for all immigrants, whom Father Pranzo has been defending.  Many immigrants are members of his Catholic church.  It was a blessing for Father Joe to see so many people supporting him, and it gave the clergy and elected officials an opportunity to say in public where they stood.  Standing up in public for what is right made people feel good and built morale in our organization. 

If we had done nothing, ignored the Rizoli’s, as the Selectman had suggested, we would have missed an opportunity to mobilize our power and an opportunity for people to do the right thing.  Organizing gives people an  opportunity to say in public what they believe in private, and when they see others doing the same, it strengthens their resolve.  The “assault and battery” case was thrown out in court quickly. The magistrate did not believe the Rizoli.   (The non existent “assault” happened at a MICAH (see www.MICAHMA.org) meeting with many local police present.  The Deputy Chief of Police testified that there was no assault. 

The legal result would have been similar if we had not held the rally, but the rally benefited not only to Father Joe, who felt supported by all the support, but all those who came felt better by acting on their beliefs.