‘#standwithcammy’ supporters gather in Washington Park to protest judge’s reversal in sexual assault case

QUINCY — A crowd of approximately 60 to 70 people marched in Washington Park on Saturday afternoon to publicly protest Judge Robert Adrian’s reversal of a ruling in a criminal sexual assault case.

Armed with signs and wearing T-shirts that read “#standwithcammy,” the protesters marched around Washington Park chanting, “No Faith in Adrian,” “Stand With Cammy” and “Rapists Go to Jail.”

“I was fired up. I usually stay fired up,” said J.J. Magliocco, violence prevention educator at QUANADA (Quincy Area Network Against Domestic Abuse), who led the parade around the park. 

The protesters gathered in the park in support of 16-year-old Cameron Vaughan, who has spoken out against Drew Clinton after he was found guilty of criminal sexual assault in October but saw his conviction overturned in January by Adams County Circuit Court Judge Robert Adrian. Vaughan attended Saturday’s rally with her parents.

“This rally means a lot,” Magliocco said. “This is not the way we wanted to raise awareness or get the attention by any means, but conversations are being had. Things are being looked at. Judicial discretion is something that is becoming a lot more watched and looked at. This is a failure of the criminal justice system, and that is at the root of this.

“This also is about our community being amazing, and more than anything, for Cammy, being one of the bravest young women I’ve had the pleasure to meet. She didn’t have to come forward. She didn’t have to name herself, but she did. What that means is other people, maybe her age, who have had these experiences can say, ‘Wow. Maybe I can talk about this. Maybe this can be something that I can do.”

Cameron Barnes, national youth director of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, spoke at the event, as well as Kathy Entrup, president of the board of directors with QUANADA, and Megan Duesterhaus, executive director of QUANADA.

Letters to Adrian and the Illinois Supreme Court requesting Adrian’s removal from the judiciary were collected at the event.

“Today brings awareness to the fact that sexual violence is incredibly prevalent. However, it is very hard to prosecute and convictions are very difficult to get,” Magliocco said. “So having a verdict overturned is a travesty. I just want people to understand that this is not the way it’s supposed to go. As always, we continue to believe, support and fight for survivors, and we will continue to do so.”