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Christina Rodriguez, accompanied by a burly male with a young, leashed pit bull, sat on a bench just feet away from the family of Jack Price — the man her brother is accused of brutally beating in a hate crime — peering in their direction through large, dark sunglasses.

After hundreds of community members marched down College Point Boulevard and the echo of encouraging words from borough leaders and local residents subsided, Price’s family was thrust into the tense and uncomfortable nonverbal exchange with the sister of one of the two accused assailants.

At the rally, which was organized to denounce hate crimes, Rodriguez claimed a hate crime never occurred in the case of Jack Price.

"This is not a hate crime at all," she said before declining to answer any more questions and eventually walking away.

A group of approximately 10 others protested the charges from behind a NYPD barrier across the street from the rally. Rodriguez and her accomplice appeared to be the only ones to infiltrate the rally grounds.

Price's niece Christina Guarneri said it blew her mind that Rodriguez chose to come so close to her family.

"I just want to know why she felt the need to come sit next to us," Guarneri said.

She said Rodriguez's claim that the beating was not motivated by Price's sexual orientation doesn't make the attack any less horrific.

"Take away the hate crime, say he wasn't gay," Guarneri said. "The way they beat him up was unbelievable. […] He didn't even hit once. He didn't even try to fight back."

Aside from the incident and the protestors, Guarneri said her uncle will be glad to learn about how many attended the event and is already overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.

"All he keeps saying is 'for me, for me?'" she said "He doesn't believe it."

The six-block march that began the event, which was organized by a coalition of LGBT groups, was led by Borough President Helen Marshall, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, City Council Candidate Danny Dromm and members of Price's family. They were followed by a procession of supporters with signs, screaming a slew of catchy slogans. Next was the rally at Popenhusen playground.

Dromm began the rally by delivering an impassioned speech calling for hope and an end to the violence.

"We're going to fight against these hate crimes and anytime anyone does this to any member of our community we are going to fight back," he said.

Quinn encouraged the community to stand strong and not retreat in the face of those who hate.

"What they need to be told is that it is inappropriate to hate but it is unacceptable and unlawful to feel so confident in your hate that you will act it out violently and that in a decent law abiding society that will not be tolerated by the law but more importantly it will not be tolerated by the majority," she said.

Price's family members directed strong words towards Rodriguez's supporters.

"He beat my brother-in-law until near death for $10 and for a pack of cigarettes," Joanne Guarneri said. "Put aside the hate crime on this. He beat a man nearly to death."

Price's brother Joe Guarneri, who chose not to speak at the rally, said Price was in better sprits but will remain in the ICU for another week.

Dromm acknowledged Price was nervous to return to the community but assured the crowd he will be welcomed with open arms upon his homecoming.

"We're going to grab him up and we're going to hug him, […]" he said. "We're not going to let Jack be alone. That's what this is about today."

Price's family was expected to take part in another community forum Thursday.

Reach Reporter Kaitlyn Kilmetis at kkilmetis@queenstribune.com, or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.