6/18/2026 9:00am
EDIT: I have been told that Ruth’s comments were in an email that was sent to a group of Dems that included the executive board, parade committee, candidates and a few PCs. Someone in that group leaked it because they wanted other Democrats to know and it wasn’t Corinna who leaked it.
The Illinois Conservative FB post on June 10 @ 8:41 PM states that Scifo made the comments publicly. (see image at end of this article)
Harvard Milk Days Parade 2026
Harvard, Illinois is a diverse community with a young population (median age 28) and a significant Hispanic & Latino presence. Approximately 56.4% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, and nearly 18% of residents are foreign-born, with many tracing their roots to Mexico, India, and Poland.
Voting base leans conservative.
Nationally we have seen ICE agents engage in unconstitutional actions against demographics like Harvard’s. In Chicago collar counties such ICE activities are reported. Conditions of ICE facilities one hour from McHenry County are inhumane including reports of worms in food.
AN ADVOCATE UNFAIRLY TARGETED
Corinna Sac is a young mother of Latino/ white children, a bisexual woman, community advocate, intersectional feminist, organizer of the Young Democrats of McHenry County, Democratic Party precinct committeeperson, and elected Grafton Township Trustee.
She is not a rule breaker. Instead she works within established processes to serve her constituents and advocate for positive change. Support from the community reflects the trust she has earned through her service and leadership.
She has devoted considerable time and effort to Democratic Party parade activities over the past 4 years. Currently the Parades Committee chair, she has grown a team of dedicated volunteers. She is the sole designer and creator of floats.
For the second year in a row she wore an anti-ICE shirt that reads:
Sugar Spice – Fuck ICE.
The shirt design also includes the Statute of Liberty and Rosie the Riveter in a powerful feminist position. The slogan is popular with activists who call for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Fuck is the most frequently used vulgar word in the English language. It is a verb, noun, adjective and intensifier depending on its use. In this case, the word “fuck“ expresses emotion and frustration. It is not profane. Like the word “explicit”, “fuck” has many meanings.
Vulgar: Vulgaris – meaning “of the people”. Common. Unrefined. Poor taste. Bodily functions, slag, not polite. It has undergone delexicalization.
Profanity: Profanus – meaning “outside the temple”. Holds contempt for religion. Using holy terms in a blasphemous way.
Explicit: Explicitus – meaning “unfolded” or “unobstructed”. Words or phrases that are directly and clearly stated, leaving no room for ambiguity. Commonly refers to content that is graphic, highly detailed, or contains profanity, sexual references, and violent descriptions
A 501 (3) (c) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Harvard Milk Days has operated for over 85 years and is organized as a tax deductible, 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The Board of Directors can create rules/guidelines for their event so long as they are not challenging anti-discrimination laws. Free speech is not an issue the board must consider as a private entity.
The 2026 Harvard Milk Days Parade Entry form Guidelines prohibit:
- throwing candy from floats to protect children from injury
- illegal drugs or alcohol on parade line up or route
- squirt guns, super soakers etc…
On June 9, Harvard Milk Days Board of Directors released a letter onto social media addressing the t-shirt, not the person wearing it and here is the relevant part:
“Harvard Milk Days does not condone profanity or explicit language at any of our family friendly events. We never have and we never will. The Harvard Milk Days Board of Directors was not aware of the shirt in question prior to or during the parade. Had the issue been brought to our attention at the time, it would have been addressed.
While we believed it was generally understood that inappropriate language and imagery have no place in a family oriented community event, we recognize the importance of clearly stating expectations. As a result our parade application and participation guidelines will be updated moving forward to explicitly prohibit apparel, signage or displays containing profanity or other inappropriate content.”
The Board of Directors assumed responsibility for the lack of clarity. At no point did they publicly disparage Corinna.
A POLITICAL PARTY
The McHenry County Democrats is Chaired by Ruth Scifo. The Democratic Party’s Executive Board is a leadership team responsible for setting policy, strategy, and priorities, while overseeing community outreach, party-building efforts, and local political campaigns.
Rather than focusing on the underlying issue, that both Harvard Milk Days and the McHenry County Democratic Party are responsible for establishing parade participation standards, Ruth Scifo responded by disparaging Corinna in her opening thoughts:
“I am sorry that Corinna was attacked. She has been attacked before, though. The people who attack her are vile, but she invites these attacks by doing things that provoke people, and she does them on purpose.”
Scifo also acknowledged that the shirt was worn intentionally and stated that she had requested changes for future participation standards:
“I asked the parade team to no longer allow profanity or offensive shirts to be a part of our group.”
Leadership is not demonstrated by assigning blame after a controversy arises.
A leader would not have singled out of a member of their own team publicly as she did.
A leader would have privately addressed the team member.
A leader would have understood that democrats in Algonquin township (the largest township in McHenry County) chose Kat Abughazaleh for Congressional District 9 in the primary over all other candidates.
Kat, strongly anti-ICE and indicted as political prosecution by the Trump administration, lost to Biss by only 4,097 votes. We are now reading Scifo’s public words, against a member of our own team whose values align with the majority of us Algonquin township voters.
Scifo reduced Corinna’s advocacy to “doing things that provoke people”.
A clear demonstration of (some, not all) older democrats being out of touch.
Democratic Party of McHenry County Chair Ruth Scifo should make a public apology to Corinna Sac. Corinna is a dedicated young Democrat, public servant and has a value system shared by democrats across all of McHenry County.
The party must evolve.
WE DONT GIVE A FUCK WHAT MAGA/REPUBLICANS SAY ABOUT US.
They elected a pedo fascist into office.
Thank you Corinna for representing. I am sure there were attendees at Harvard Milk Days that were thankful for your advocacy. You did not dampen the day.
