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| Counter-Protesters Surge Into Boston, Derailing Rally | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BOSTON — Thousands of demonstrators, emboldened and unnerved by the fatal eruption of violence in Virginia last weekend, surged into the nation’s streets and parks on Saturday to denounce white supremacy and Nazism. | BOSTON — Thousands of demonstrators, emboldened and unnerved by the fatal eruption of violence in Virginia last weekend, surged into the nation’s streets and parks on Saturday to denounce white supremacy and Nazism. |
| A Boston rally to promote “free speech” was unamplified, undercut by police planning and starved by an enormous buffer zone between protesters and their opponents. | A Boston rally to promote “free speech” was unamplified, undercut by police planning and starved by an enormous buffer zone between protesters and their opponents. |
| A spokesman for the Boston police, Lt. Detective Mike McCarthy, said the free speech demonstrators had “decided they were done, and they left the Common.” | |
| The demonstrations that began late Friday and spread into Saturday were broadly peaceful, even as tensions and worries coursed through protests that unfolded from Boston Common, the nation’s oldest public park, to Hot Springs, Ark., to the bridges that cross the Willamette River in Portland, Ore. Other protests were expected on Saturday in Chicago, Dallas and Houston. | The demonstrations that began late Friday and spread into Saturday were broadly peaceful, even as tensions and worries coursed through protests that unfolded from Boston Common, the nation’s oldest public park, to Hot Springs, Ark., to the bridges that cross the Willamette River in Portland, Ore. Other protests were expected on Saturday in Chicago, Dallas and Houston. |
| “This city has a history of fighting back against oppression, whether it’s dumping tea in the harbor or a bunch of dudes standing around with bandannas screaming at neo-Nazis,” said a 21-year-old protester in Boston who would only identify himself as “Frosty” and wore an American flag to obscure much of his face. | “This city has a history of fighting back against oppression, whether it’s dumping tea in the harbor or a bunch of dudes standing around with bandannas screaming at neo-Nazis,” said a 21-year-old protester in Boston who would only identify himself as “Frosty” and wore an American flag to obscure much of his face. |
| Saturday’s demonstrations, one week after a 32-year-old woman died amid clashes between white nationalists and counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Va., came at a fraught moment for a nation again confronting questions about race, violence and the standing of Confederate symbols. President Trump, who has faced unyielding, and bipartisan, criticism after he said there was “blame on both sides” in Charlottesville, was publicly silent about Saturday’s protests. | Saturday’s demonstrations, one week after a 32-year-old woman died amid clashes between white nationalists and counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Va., came at a fraught moment for a nation again confronting questions about race, violence and the standing of Confederate symbols. President Trump, who has faced unyielding, and bipartisan, criticism after he said there was “blame on both sides” in Charlottesville, was publicly silent about Saturday’s protests. |
| Law enforcement officials were on alert, wary of being seen as irresolute and ineffective after the protests in Virginia turned fatal when someone drove a car through a crowd of protesters. Officers patrolled on bicycles, on foot and from helicopters. In some instances, officers dressed in riot gear faced off with demonstrators and tried to maintain order. | Law enforcement officials were on alert, wary of being seen as irresolute and ineffective after the protests in Virginia turned fatal when someone drove a car through a crowd of protesters. Officers patrolled on bicycles, on foot and from helicopters. In some instances, officers dressed in riot gear faced off with demonstrators and tried to maintain order. |
| The epicenter of the weekend’s demonstrations appeared to be here in Boston, where the Common was the expected setting for raucous, dueling protests, including one that the Boston Free Speech Coalition organized before the Charlottesville violence. | The epicenter of the weekend’s demonstrations appeared to be here in Boston, where the Common was the expected setting for raucous, dueling protests, including one that the Boston Free Speech Coalition organized before the Charlottesville violence. |
| But supporters of the free speech rally that had been scheduled for noon appeared subsumed by thousands of counter-protesters, many of whom marched toward the Common from the Roxbury neighborhood. As the minutes ticked by on a Boston Saturday that began with fog but became hot and sticky, counterdemonstrators shouted “Scum! Scum!” | But supporters of the free speech rally that had been scheduled for noon appeared subsumed by thousands of counter-protesters, many of whom marched toward the Common from the Roxbury neighborhood. As the minutes ticked by on a Boston Saturday that began with fog but became hot and sticky, counterdemonstrators shouted “Scum! Scum!” |
| Earlier, the counterprotesters had shouted down their opponents — “No Nazis! No K.K.K.! No fascist U.S.A.!” — as Massachusetts state troopers used their bikes to keep rival demonstrators apart. City officials had said they would enforce a policy of zero tolerance for violence. | Earlier, the counterprotesters had shouted down their opponents — “No Nazis! No K.K.K.! No fascist U.S.A.!” — as Massachusetts state troopers used their bikes to keep rival demonstrators apart. City officials had said they would enforce a policy of zero tolerance for violence. |
| “If anything gets out of hand,” Mayor Martin J. Walsh said on Friday, “we will shut it down.” | “If anything gets out of hand,” Mayor Martin J. Walsh said on Friday, “we will shut it down.” |
| Although the Boston Free Speech Coalition’s rally had been planned before the chaos in Charlottesville, and although organizers said they were appealing to “libertarians, conservatives, traditionalists, classical liberals, Trump supporters or anyone else who enjoys their right to free speech,” critics feared that the rally would be a haven for white supremacists and neo-Nazis. | Although the Boston Free Speech Coalition’s rally had been planned before the chaos in Charlottesville, and although organizers said they were appealing to “libertarians, conservatives, traditionalists, classical liberals, Trump supporters or anyone else who enjoys their right to free speech,” critics feared that the rally would be a haven for white supremacists and neo-Nazis. |
| The rally unraveled by about 12:50 p.m. The bandstand emptied, officials removed flags tied to the free speech rally and the crowd of counterprotesters sang, “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye.” | The rally unraveled by about 12:50 p.m. The bandstand emptied, officials removed flags tied to the free speech rally and the crowd of counterprotesters sang, “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye.” |
| Rondre Brooks, 36, who said he had traveled from Detroit for the counter-demonstration, said he was pleased to see the apparent early end of the free speech rally. “It’s a very good look for America as a whole,” he said. | Rondre Brooks, 36, who said he had traveled from Detroit for the counter-demonstration, said he was pleased to see the apparent early end of the free speech rally. “It’s a very good look for America as a whole,” he said. |
| But another man, who said he supported the speech rally and gave his name, after some hesitation, as Matt Staley, interjected to ask if those demonstrating in support of free speech were not Americans, too. | But another man, who said he supported the speech rally and gave his name, after some hesitation, as Matt Staley, interjected to ask if those demonstrating in support of free speech were not Americans, too. |
| “I think it’s awful that people can’t speak out to express opinions,” Mr. Staley said. | “I think it’s awful that people can’t speak out to express opinions,” Mr. Staley said. |
| The counterprotesters descended on the Common for hours before the planned rally, and they found fliers showing symbols of white supremacists and neo-Nazis. The leaflet, which protesters appeared to have prepared, urged people to “learn to identify these symbols and let anyone displaying them know that they are not welcome in our city!” | The counterprotesters descended on the Common for hours before the planned rally, and they found fliers showing symbols of white supremacists and neo-Nazis. The leaflet, which protesters appeared to have prepared, urged people to “learn to identify these symbols and let anyone displaying them know that they are not welcome in our city!” |
| “Boston is an anti-fascist zone!” it added. | “Boston is an anti-fascist zone!” it added. |
| “Charlottesville is what forced me out here,” said Rose Fowler, a retired teacher who is black and was among the people who had gathered to march from Roxbury toward the Common, about two miles away. “Somebody killed for fighting for me. What is wrong with me if I can’t fight for myself and others?” | “Charlottesville is what forced me out here,” said Rose Fowler, a retired teacher who is black and was among the people who had gathered to march from Roxbury toward the Common, about two miles away. “Somebody killed for fighting for me. What is wrong with me if I can’t fight for myself and others?” |
| Although the protests in Boston were expected to be among the weekend’s largest, several hundred people gathered on Friday evening in Portland for an “Eclipse Hate” rally. The protest soon swelled to more than 1,000 people, many of whom used chants that demonstrators used in Boston on Saturday morning. | Although the protests in Boston were expected to be among the weekend’s largest, several hundred people gathered on Friday evening in Portland for an “Eclipse Hate” rally. The protest soon swelled to more than 1,000 people, many of whom used chants that demonstrators used in Boston on Saturday morning. |
| The demonstrators swarmed two of Portland’s bridges, halting traffic in both directions and chanting “Whose bridge? Our bridge!” | The demonstrators swarmed two of Portland’s bridges, halting traffic in both directions and chanting “Whose bridge? Our bridge!” |
| In Arkansas on Saturday morning, a small demonstration supporting Confederate symbols drew about 50 people in Hot Springs. A small group of opponents walked by occasionally, denouncing Mr. Trump and racial hatred. | In Arkansas on Saturday morning, a small demonstration supporting Confederate symbols drew about 50 people in Hot Springs. A small group of opponents walked by occasionally, denouncing Mr. Trump and racial hatred. |
| Law enforcement officials made extensive plans for the weekend’s demonstrations. In Dallas, where a gunman killed five police officers who were protecting a protest in July 2016, the authorities planned to form a barricade around Saturday’s demonstration site with buses and heavy equipment to “lock down” the area and keep any cars from drawing too close to the crowd. | Law enforcement officials made extensive plans for the weekend’s demonstrations. In Dallas, where a gunman killed five police officers who were protecting a protest in July 2016, the authorities planned to form a barricade around Saturday’s demonstration site with buses and heavy equipment to “lock down” the area and keep any cars from drawing too close to the crowd. |
| The Boston authorities cleared the Common of vendors and their carts, and they shut down the Swan Boats, a major tourist attraction in the nearby Public Garden. Marchers were banned from bringing weapons, bats, sticks, flagpoles or anything that might be used as a weapon or a projectile, and backpacks were subject to search. | The Boston authorities cleared the Common of vendors and their carts, and they shut down the Swan Boats, a major tourist attraction in the nearby Public Garden. Marchers were banned from bringing weapons, bats, sticks, flagpoles or anything that might be used as a weapon or a projectile, and backpacks were subject to search. |
| Boston’s approach to the day’s protests represented something of a balancing act. Mr. Walsh, the mayor, said the city had consulted the Southern Poverty Law Center, a Montgomery, Ala.-based group that monitors extremist behavior, on how to handle hate groups. He said the center warned that “interacting with them gives them a platform to spread their message of hate” and that it recommended that people “not confront” them. | Boston’s approach to the day’s protests represented something of a balancing act. Mr. Walsh, the mayor, said the city had consulted the Southern Poverty Law Center, a Montgomery, Ala.-based group that monitors extremist behavior, on how to handle hate groups. He said the center warned that “interacting with them gives them a platform to spread their message of hate” and that it recommended that people “not confront” them. |
| “So we’re urging everyone to stay away from the Common,” Mr. Walsh said. “At the same time, we can’t look away.” | “So we’re urging everyone to stay away from the Common,” Mr. Walsh said. “At the same time, we can’t look away.” |
| The mayor had begun the week by telling hate groups they were not welcome in Boston. By Friday, he acknowledged their right to assemble and express their views. | The mayor had begun the week by telling hate groups they were not welcome in Boston. By Friday, he acknowledged their right to assemble and express their views. |
| “The courts have made it abundantly clear they have the right to gather, no matter how repugnant their views are, but they don’t have the right to create unsafe conditions,” Mr. Walsh said. “So we’re going to respect their right of free speech, and in return they must respect our city.” | “The courts have made it abundantly clear they have the right to gather, no matter how repugnant their views are, but they don’t have the right to create unsafe conditions,” Mr. Walsh said. “So we’re going to respect their right of free speech, and in return they must respect our city.” |
| Still, tensions here have been rising all week. On Monday night, a teenager threw a rock at the New England Holocaust Memorial, shattering the glass; passers-by quickly tackled the youth before the police arrived. | Still, tensions here have been rising all week. On Monday night, a teenager threw a rock at the New England Holocaust Memorial, shattering the glass; passers-by quickly tackled the youth before the police arrived. |
| And with the national spotlight on the debate over Confederate monuments in the South, John W. Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, said he was “haunted” by the racist legacy of his predecessor, Tom Yawkey, who resisted integrating the ball club long after every other club in Major League Baseball had hired black players. Mr. Henry said he wanted to lead an effort to rename Yawkey Way, a public street outside Fenway Park, “in light of the country’s current leadership stance with regard to intolerance.” | And with the national spotlight on the debate over Confederate monuments in the South, John W. Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox, said he was “haunted” by the racist legacy of his predecessor, Tom Yawkey, who resisted integrating the ball club long after every other club in Major League Baseball had hired black players. Mr. Henry said he wanted to lead an effort to rename Yawkey Way, a public street outside Fenway Park, “in light of the country’s current leadership stance with regard to intolerance.” |
| Duke University announced early Saturday that it had removed a recently vandalized statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee from the entrance to its campus chapel in Durham, N.C. | Duke University announced early Saturday that it had removed a recently vandalized statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee from the entrance to its campus chapel in Durham, N.C. |
| “I took this course of action to protect Duke Chapel, to ensure the vital safety of students and community members who worship there, and above all to express the deep and abiding values of our university,” Vincent E. Price, the university’s president, said in an email to students, employees and alumni. | “I took this course of action to protect Duke Chapel, to ensure the vital safety of students and community members who worship there, and above all to express the deep and abiding values of our university,” Vincent E. Price, the university’s president, said in an email to students, employees and alumni. |
| Dr. Price said the statue would be “preserved so that students can study Duke’s complex past and take part in a more inclusive future.” | Dr. Price said the statue would be “preserved so that students can study Duke’s complex past and take part in a more inclusive future.” |