Residents, nonresidents rally in support of Harrisville councilwoman
HARRISVILLE — While business seemed to be as usual during the borough council meeting Monday, May 11, the chant of “we stand with Mary Ann” emanating outside the building gave the impression that it was anything but.
About 20 or so people gathered outside the borough office an hour before Monday’s meeting in support of Councilwoman Mary Ann Hughes’ right to speak out against borough council.
The rally was organized by the The Libertarian Party of Butler County and the Butler County Republican Committee after Hughes’ council seat was nearly filled in early 2026 and she was placed in handcuffs and removed from an April council meeting because she refused to stop speaking when asked to by the council’s president during a pubic comment period.
Protesters held signs with various messages, ranging from “no queens” to “I’m with her.” Occasional cars passing by honked and waved at the small gathering.
Morgen Mogus, chairman of the county’s Libertarian party and organizer of the event, said he knew he wanted to do something after seeing the video of Hughes handcuffed.
Mogus said he chatted with friends with the county Republicans when they recognized the opportunity to do their own take on a “no kings” rally.
“The subject of if there was a ‘no kings’ moment, it would be this,” he said. “We were just going back and forth with some picket sign ideas and slogans. I said, instead of talking about it, why don’t we actually do this?”
Mogus said he spoke to some borough residents who told him that things barely, if ever, change from just resident feedback.
“A protest like this in a small community like this, that’s going to change something considerably,” he said.
Protesters at Monday’s rally included Harrisville residents, members of nearby communities and even supporters of Hughes from across the county.
One nearby resident, Gene Allison of Slippery Rock, said he feels Hughes has and continues to serve her community well.
“Mary Ann is outspoken just a little bit, but she’s good for the town. Her and (her late husband and former mayor) Gary have been good for the community. They’re very giving,” he said.
He said during his years serving on the Slippery Rock Borough Council, he has never seen someone removed from a public meeting in handcuffs.
“We’ve asked people to leave; we escorted people out, but nothing like this,” he said.
At the end of the day, Allison said whether or not Hughes’ rights were violated, borough council should apologize.
Chet Jack, another attendee of Monday’s rally, said he decided to attend after Hughes was done a “horrible disservice.” He said he believes she had every right to speak considering she spoke during the public comment section of the meeting.
“She had a right to say what she wanted to. She wasn’t doing anything wrong,” he said.
Around 6:50 p.m., a borough police officer said the number of people present at the meeting exceeded the building’s occupancy limits. He asked residents and taxpayers to each sign in, one by one, as he stood in front of the door.
After all residents and taxpayers were let in, only a few rally attendees and present Butler Eagle staff were able to enter before police closed the meeting. When attendees left mid-meeting, police let in the next nonresident in line.
Attorney Rebecca Black of Lutz Pawk & Black, who was present at Monday’s meeting as a citizen, said conducting a borough meeting while limiting the number of persons able to attend is in violation of the state’s Sunshine Act.
“The Sunshine Act demands that official actions of any municipal agency take place at a meeting open to the public, subject to limited exceptions,” Black said in an email to the Butler Eagle after the meeting. “Notwithstanding the right of the public to attend and observe municipal meetings, council closed its doors — and locked them — upon reaching 38 attendees (which Council determined was the meeting room's capacity). Council left 14 people standing on the street and prohibited them from attending the meeting.
“Upon reaching capacity, Council should have adjourned the meeting to reconvene at a later date in a larger meeting area, or provided for remote participation,” she continued. “Instead, Council ignored the members of the public knocking on the door — and windows — asking for the ability to attend the meeting and deliberately conducted business in their absence.”
While business was fairly standard during the meeting, with discussions ranging from streets work to applying for grants, Hughes asked for the April meeting minutes to reflect the fact she was escorted out in handcuffs. Borough council adopted this change unanimously.
Hughes also voiced her concern with a number of other decisions and voted against several motions during the meeting.
The next regularly scheduled Harrisville Borough Council meeting is set for 7 p.m. Monday, June 8.
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Morgen Mogus, right, takes part in a demonstration in support of Harrisville Councilwoman Mary Ann Hughes across from the borough building on Monday, May 11. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Demonstrators gathered in support of Mary Ann Hughes stand across the street from the Harrisville Borough building before a council meeting on Monday, May 11. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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A demonstrator stands outside the Harrisville Borough building before a council meeting in support of Mary Ann Hughes on Monday, May 11. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Harrisville Councilwoman Mary Ann Hughes hugs Gene Allison across the street from the Harrisville Borough building before a council meeting on Monday, May 11, 2026. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo speaks with demonstrators outside the Harrisville Borough building during a demonstration in support of Mary Ann Hughes on Monday, May 11. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Demonstrators gathered in support of Mary Ann Hughes stand across the street from the Harrisville Borough building before a council meeting on Monday, May 11. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mary Ann Hughes greets demonstrators across the street from the Harrisville Borough building before a council meeting on Monday, May 11. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
