MODESTO, Calif. — In a violent display of intolerance, an opponent of Proposition 8 attacked and seriously injured a Catholic parishioner who was volunteering on Sunday for the initiative to define marriage as between and a man and a woman.
Prop. 8 supporter, Jose Nunez, 37, was brutally assaulted while waiting to distribute yard signs to other supporters of the initiative after church services at the St. Stanislaus Parish in Modesto.
The assailant grabbed about 75 signs and yelled at Nunez accusingly, "What do you have against gays!" Although Nunez replied that he had nothing against gays, he was attacked anyway. The assailant punched Nunez in the left eye and ran off with the signs.
Nunez, his eye dripping with blood, walked into a building on church grounds where a fellow parishioner called 911. Police and paramedics responded to the scene.
Nunez, who suffered a bloody eye, serious wounds to his face, and a scratch to his knee, was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital where he received 16 stitches under his eye.
According to the Yes on 8 campaign, the attack shows that their opponents are not as tolerant and open-minded as they would like voters to believe.
"It's outrageous that the No campaign calls themselves the voice of tolerance and moderation and wants people to feel bad for supporting Prop. 8. There was nothing tolerant or moderate about beating up Jose," said ProtectMarriage.com—Yes on 8 press secretary Chip White. "Clearly the man who attacked Jose is intolerant of those who support traditional marriage," White added.
Nunez is the Grand Knight of the St. Stainslaus Council Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus has contributed more than $1 million to the campaign for Prop. 8.
Nunez, who is recovering and in good spirits, said the attack only strengthens his resolve to help ensure that Prop. 8 passes.
"The other side wants to intimidate us, but we can't stop standing up for traditional marriage. I may be bloody and bruised, but I'm not giving up. Protecting traditional marriage is just too important for our kids," said Nunez, the father of three children, ages 9, 5, and 3. "I don't want my kids taught in public school that same sex-marriage is the same as traditional marriage," Nunez added.
Nunez has been forced to take time off work to recover. It was not immediately clear how much Nunez will suffer in medical expenses and lost wages.
Anyone who is interested in contributing funds toward Nunez's medical expenses or lost wages may contact the campaign at info@protectmarriage.com.
The campaign asks those who have been attacked, threatened, or had yard signs stolen to file a police report and to inform the campaign.
-