Natick Residents Petition To Oust Official Seen At Capitol Riot

NATICK, MA — Over 500 Natick residents have signed a petition to oust a Town Meeting member after she was photographed inside the U.S. Capitol during Wednesday's riot.

The petition targets Sue Ianni, who was last elected in the 2019 Natick town election as a Precinct 3 Town Meeting representative. Agence France-Presse photographer Roberto Schmidt photographed Ianni with her fist raised in a large crowd inside the Capitol. She's standing next to Super Happy Fun America Vice President Mark Sahady of Malden. The group organized the 2019 "Straight Pride" parade in Boston.

In addition to entering the Capitol, Ianni organized several buses to transport local residents to Washington, D.C., to take part in the rally organized by the Trump campaign to protest the November election results.

In the petition, author Benjamin Jackson highlights Ianni's role in the riot and says she wasn't by abiding coronavirus safety protocols. The photo of Ianni shows her without a face mask.

"If those Natick residents who participated in this folly did so in such a manner as to respect public health and safety guidelines without engaging in an insurrection against our nation which resulted in the deaths of five Americans — including the murder of a Capitol police officer — we would not be writing this letter," he wrote. "However, that is not the case. These actions endanger our community, weaken our nation, and put the safety and reputation of our town at risk. Action must be taken."

The petition also asks the town to identify other Natick residents who attended either the rally or the riot and make sure they follow coronavirus protocols, including possible quarantine.

Select Board Chair Jonathan Freedman said Tuesday the board will read a statement about the Capitol riot at its Wednesday meeting. He said the town has received numerous inquiries about the riot that are being "examined by the authorities with the relevant jurisdiction."

Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said he will prosecute any residents who traveled to Washington, D.C., seeking to commit crimes. So far only one Massachusetts resident — David Ross, 33, of Pittsfield — has been identified among those arrested in connection to the Capitol breach.

"Anyone who traveled from Massachusetts with the intent to commit such crimes will be prosecuted in the District of Massachusetts," Lelling said in a statement Thursday.

The photo of Ianni and Sahady inside the Capitol was first circulated on Jan. 9 by Gregg Housh, a Boston-based activist.

Ianni did not immediately respond to requests for comment either via phone or email.