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Rightwing Boston rally ends early as thousands of counter-protesters turn out Trump attacks Boston counter-protesters as 'anti-police agitators'
(about 1 hour later)
One of the planned speakers of a conservative activist rally that appeared to end shortly after it began on Saturday has said the event “fell apart.” Donald Trump described anti-Nazi demonstrators who converged on Boston to repudiate white nationalism as “anti-police agitators” on Saturday, in a tweet that seemed destined to revive the still simmering controversy over his remarks equating the far right and anti-fascists in Charlottesville last weekend.
Dozens of rallygoers gathered on Boston Common, but then left less than an hour after the event was getting under way. Thousands of counter-protesters had also gathered. “Looks like many anti-police agitators in Boston,” Trump tweeted. “Police are looking tough and smart! Thank you.”
TV cameras showed police vans escorting participants away, and angry counter-protesters scuffled with armed officers trying to maintain order. An estimated 15,000 counter-protesters marched through the city to historic Boston Common on Saturday, dwarfing a small group of conservatives who cut short their planned “free speech rally”. Many gathered near a bandstand abandoned early by conservatives who had planned to deliver a series of speeches. Police vans later escorted the conservatives out of the area, and angry counter-protesters scuffled with armed officers trying to maintain order.
Alt-right and Free Speakers being escorted off Boston Common in paddy wagons pic.twitter.com/mK0zmruEsd Organizers of the midday event had publicly distanced themselves from the neo-Nazis, white supremacists and others who fomented violence in Charlottesville on 12 August. A woman was killed at that Unite the Right rally, and scores of others were injured, when a car plowed into counter-demonstrators.
Congressional candidate Samson Racioppi, who was among several slated to speak, told WCVB-TV that he didn’t realize “how unplanned of an event it was going to be”. Activist Vida James, 34, said: “My thoughts on the tweet? Donald Trump spewed hate speech in his campaign, emboldened white supremacists, and here in Boston we have police protecting white supremacists.”
Rallygoers had been met by counter-protesters, sparking confrontations. She added: “The government and the police are actors of institutional racism, as we see with police brutality and Trump’s defense of the same brutality. So the tweet doesn’t surprise me.”
Earlier, thousands of leftist counter-protesters marched through downtown Boston, chanting anti-Nazi slogans and waving signs condemning white nationalism one week after a demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned deadly. The violence in Charlottesville led to Trump igniting the most serious controversy over racism since his election campaign, with Republicans, business leaders, charities, sports stars and artists all denouncing him after he suggested that neo-Nazis there were morally equivalent to the anti-fascist activists opposing them.
Police commissioner William Evans said on Friday that 500 officers – some in uniform, others undercover – were being deployed to keep the two groups apart on Saturday. Opponents feared that white nationalists might show up in Boston anyway, raising the specter of ugly confrontations in the first potentially large and racially charged gathering in a major US city since Charlottesville. But only a few dozen conservatives turned out for the rally on historic Boston Common in stark contrast to the estimated 15,000 counter-protesters and the conservatives abruptly left early.
One of the planned speakers of the conservative activist rally said the event “fell apart.”
More images. Police formed tight circle around arrested. For @DigBoston pic.twitter.com/kj8Wxf1gURMore images. Police formed tight circle around arrested. For @DigBoston pic.twitter.com/kj8Wxf1gUR
Boston’s Democratic mayor, Marty Walsh, and Massachusetts’ Republican governor, Charlie Baker, both warned that extremist unrest would not be tolerated in this city famed as the cradle of American liberty. Congressional candidate Samson Racioppi, who was among several conservatives slated to speak, told WCVB-TV that he didn’t realize “how unplanned of an event it was going to be”.
Organizers of the midday event, billed as a “Free Speech Rally,” have publicly distanced themselves from the neo-Nazis, white supremacists and others who fomented violence in Charlottesville on 12 August. A woman was killed at that Unite the Right rally, and scores of others were injured, when a car plowed into counter-demonstrators. Some counter-protesters dressed entirely in black and wore bandanas over their faces. They chanted anti-Nazi and anti-fascism slogans, and waved signs that said: “Make Nazis Afraid Again,” “Love your neighbor,” “Resist fascism” and “Hate never made US great.” Others carried a large banner that read: “SMASH WHITE SUPREMACY.”
But opponents feared that white nationalists might show up in Boston anyway, raising the specter of ugly confrontations in the first potentially large and racially charged gathering in a major US city since Charlottesville. “I came out today to show support for the black community and for all minority communities,” said Rockeem Robinson, 21, a youth counselor from Cambridge. He said he wasn’t concerned about his personal safety because he felt there was more support on his side.
Arrests happening for @DigBoston in Bosrob pic.twitter.com/KbnlL62bFV Katie Griffiths, 48, a social worker also from Cambridge, who works with members of poor and minority communities, said she found the hate and violence happening “very scary”.
Events are planned around the country, in cities including Atlanta, Dallas and New Orleans. “I see poor people and people of color being scapegoated,” she said. “Unlearned lessons can be repeated.”
Mayor Walsh greeted counter-protesters Saturday morning outside Reggie Lewis Center in the city’s Roxbury neighborhood. Counter-protesters from Black Lives Matter and other groups denouncing racism and antisemitism marching from there to the Common, and another group plans to rally on the steps of the statehouse overlooking the sprawling park.
Some counter-protesters dressed entirely in black and wore bandanas over their faces. They chanted anti-Nazi and anti-fascism slogans, and waved signs that said: “Love your neighbor,” “Resist fascism” and “Hate never made US great.” Others carried a large banner that read: “SMASH WHITE SUPREMACY.”
Boston police estimated the size of the crowd participating in the march to the Common at about 15,000.
TV cameras showed a group of boisterous counter-protesters on the Common chasing a man with a Trump campaign banner and cap, shouting and swearing at him. But other counter-protesters intervened and helped the man safely over a fence into the area where the conservative rally was to be staged. Black-clad counter-protesters also grabbed an American flag out of an elderly woman’s hands, and she stumbled and fell to the ground.TV cameras showed a group of boisterous counter-protesters on the Common chasing a man with a Trump campaign banner and cap, shouting and swearing at him. But other counter-protesters intervened and helped the man safely over a fence into the area where the conservative rally was to be staged. Black-clad counter-protesters also grabbed an American flag out of an elderly woman’s hands, and she stumbled and fell to the ground.
The permit issued for the rally on Boston Common came with severe restrictions, including a ban on backpacks, sticks and anything that could be used as a weapon. Yet Saturday’s showdown was mostly peaceable, and after demonstrators dispersed, a picnic atmosphere took over with stragglers tossing beach balls, banging on bongo drums and playing reggae music.
The permit is for 100 people, though an organizer has said he expected up to 1,000 people to attend.
The Boston Free Speech Coalition, which organized the event, said it has nothing to do with white nationalism or racism and its group is not affiliated with the Charlottesville rally organizers in any way.The Boston Free Speech Coalition, which organized the event, said it has nothing to do with white nationalism or racism and its group is not affiliated with the Charlottesville rally organizers in any way.
“We are strictly about free speech,” the group said on its Facebook page. “We will not be offering our platform to racism or bigotry. We denounce the politics of supremacy and violence.” “We are strictly about free speech,” the group said on its Facebook page. “We denounce the politics of supremacy and violence.”
But the mayor pointed out that some of those invited to speak “spew hate.” Kyle Chapman, who described himself on Facebook as a “proud American nationalist,” said he will attend.
Black Lives Matter said Friday that members from around the US planned to march Saturday in Boston.
Walsh said the city would do whatever is necessary to head off violence initiated by either side. “If anyone gets out of control – at all – it will be shut down,” he said.
“We will not tolerate any misbehavior, violence or vandalism whatsoever,” said Evans, Boston’s top police officer.
Dating to 1634, Boston Common is the nation’s oldest city park. The leafy downtown park is popular with locals and tourists and has been the scene of numerous rallies and protests for centuries.Dating to 1634, Boston Common is the nation’s oldest city park. The leafy downtown park is popular with locals and tourists and has been the scene of numerous rallies and protests for centuries.
Rallies also were planned in cities across the country, including Dallas, Atlanta and New Orleans.
Hundreds of people gathered at City Hall in Austin, Texas, on Saturday morning, holding signs in support of racial equality. The Austin American-Statesmen reported organizers for the Rally Against White Supremacy estimated about 1,200 people were in attendance.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Arrests happening for @DigBoston in Bosrob pic.twitter.com/KbnlL62bFV