WORCESTER—What began as a solemn Memorial Day observance at Hope Cemetery on May 26 ended in a disturbing confrontation that left multiple elected officials shaken, according to a statement released Tuesday by City Councilor-at-large Khrystian King.
King, a candidate for mayor and current vice chair of the city council, issued a public statement describing a man who he said became increasingly aggressive during and after the ceremony, targeting several officials with verbal abuse, threatening gestures, and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
“I witnessed him standing over them, shouting profanities… and gesturing in a threatening manner,” King wrote. “There was genuine concern expressed by witnesses that he might escalate to physical violence.”
The man’s tirade, King said, included targeting District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj with false claims about immigration and blaming her for “illegal aliens” taking housing from Americans. King said he, too, became a target when he approached to intervene.
Haxhiaj confirmed the incident to the Worcester Guardian, recounting how the man began shouting obscenities at her after confirming her identity, referencing her involvement in a controversial May 8 incident on Eureka Street in which she was accused of interfering with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest.
“He immediately started using abusive language referencing the Eureka Street incident,” Haxhiaj said. “He stepped forward into my personal space and continued yelling.”
Senator Robyn Kennedy attempted to step between Haxhiaj and the man as he continued the verbal assault, King said.
Haxhiaj indicated that the incident was reported to the Worcester Police Department, which was confirmed by PD spokesperson Joe Cersosimo.
“We conducted a follow up investigation and detectives determined that the man’s actions did not warrant further action from the WPD,” said Cersosimo.
Both King and Haxhiaj expressed concern that Mayor Joe Petty, who was also in attendance, witnessed the interaction but chose not to intervene.
King said he is actively seeking to identify the man involved so that “appropriate steps can be taken to ensure accountability and safety planning going forward.”
“This kind of intimidation is not protected conduct,” King wrote. “It’s a threat to civic participation and democratic discourse.”
The Worcester Guardian has also reached out to the Worcester Veterans Council and Mayor Joe Petty for comment and will update this story as responses are received.
Have news, tips, or a story worth telling? Reach Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org—because good stories (and great scoops) deserve to be shared.
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