Right-Wing Gathering In Auburn Will Celebrate 'Heroes Of Jan. 6'

AUBURN, MA — Right-wing groups from across Massachusetts will gather at a private club in Auburn Saturday for a fundraiser for two local residents charged after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, and to align conservatives for a larger political mission, according to an organizer.

The event, called the "Refounding Fathers Festival," will collect about 20 conservative groups — from pro-Trump clubs to Republican organizations — from every part of the state. Attendees will be asked to donate to a legal fund for Natick Town Meeting member Sue Ianni and Super Happy Fun America (SHFA) vice president Mark Sahady, who were called "heroes of Jan.6" in a flier advertising the event. Both were arrested and charged in January after the Capitol riot.

"I think it's heroic to protest against a stolen election," SHFA organizer John Hugo said Wednesday.

The event also coincides with federal prosecutors formally filing charges against Ianni. On July 2, federal prosecutors charged her with misdemeanor disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds and entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds.

The event will take place at the Century Sportsman's Club and will feature patriotic rock music, food and drinks, and is open to all ages. Ianni and Sahady will be there, as will Camp Constitution founder Hal Shurtleff, who is also known for suing Boston over his right to fly a Christian flag outside City Hall.

Related: Natick Town Meeting Condemns Capitol Riot With Ianni Watching

Hugo declined to name other groups planning to attend, but said about 300 people are expected.

The event is drawing fire, Hugo said. People aligned with "antifa" — a disparate group generally focused on protesting fascism — are trying to convince the club to shut down the gathering, he said. For anyone opposed to either the event or the events on Jan. 6, Hugo says it's a celebration of opposing ideas.

"The reason we're having the event is to have all the conservative groups together and form a single organization," he said.

SHFA is perhaps the most well known right-wing group in Massachusetts following its 2019 rally in Boston celebrating "straight pride" (and Hugo said another straight pride parade is coming this fall). The group also chartered 11 buses to bring New England conservatives to former president Donald Trump's Jan. 6 rally, which fed the Capitol insurrection.

Hugo said the Auburn event would not be open to any racist or white supremacist groups or anyone wielding a Confederate flag — and he repeatedly emphasized his group has diverse members.

"We think the deck is stacked against us right now, so we need to pool our resources," Hugo said of the right-wing gathering, adding that the left is "far better" organized.

Hugo said there's a "Marxist" revolution taking place in the U.S., and the state's right-wing groups need to work together to stop it. He closed an interview by quoting Benjamin Franklin's line about the U.S. being a republic "if you can keep it."

"Let's see if we can keep it this time," he said.

Correction: An earlier version of this story did not provide the correct name for the venue where Saturday's event will be held.