Thousands of Counter-Protestors Dwarf ‘Free Speech’ Rally Attendees in Boston (Video)
Tensions Running High
Thousands of counter-protestors have arrived in Boston ahead of a self-described “free speech rally†organized by the Boston Free Speech Coalition.
The event began at noon Saturday, with the coalition having invited “libertarians, conservatives, traditionalists, classical liberals, Trump supporters or anyone else who enjoys their right to free speech.â€
Ahead of the official start, thousands of counter-protestors took to the streets in Boston, organized in response to the tragic events in Charlottesville, Virginia last week that cost activist Heather Heyer her life.
The death of Heyer understandably sparked outrage and controversy following the president’s refusal to denounce white supremacism. Donald Trump, three days later, finally did so in a scripted response—only to, just over 24 hours later, blame “both sides†for last Saturday’s violence in an unhinged press conference. Fallout continues.
As CNN reported:
Amid a heavy police presence, men, women and children from diverse backgrounds showed up early Saturday to march from the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Roxbury to Boston Common.
Some carried signs with messages such as “No Trump. No KKK. No racist USA” and “Americans against hate.” At times, they chanted “Hey hey, ho ho, white supremacy has got to go” and “Black lives matter.”Â
The Boston event, which was planned before the violence in Charlottesville, is taking place amid a heated national debate about racism and the future of Confederate monuments.
Videos from the event have begun to pour in:
The Boston counter-protest is now perhaps the largest anti-racist protest this year. Thousands arrive still — many more expected. pic.twitter.com/7dIPr9XbMo
— Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) August 19, 2017
We out here in these Boston streets. #fightsupremacy #bostonresist #bostoncommon #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/CTnYc9Euw4
— Derron Wallace (@DerronWallace) August 19, 2017
Looking beautiful Boston! We are with you! #RESIST #NoHate #LoveWins
â¤ï¸ðŸ‘ŠðŸ»ðŸ‘ŠðŸ¼ðŸ‘ŠðŸ½ðŸ‘ŠðŸ¾ðŸ‘ŠðŸ¿â¤ï¸
â¤ï¸ðŸ’œðŸ’™ðŸ’šðŸ’›ðŸ’šðŸ’™ðŸ’œâ¤ï¸https://t.co/Y7NVpqLNDk— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) August 19, 2017
Big difference in crowd sizes on Boston Common pic.twitter.com/PMv9zoHxb9
— Dan Atkinson (@_danatkinson_) August 19, 2017
Bloc #boston #bostonresist pic.twitter.com/IVtQW7gL33
— Simon Ouderkirk (@saouderkirk) August 19, 2017
Not in Boston pic.twitter.com/zdf9FVRIpz
— Ross Nakatsuji (@Spuckey) August 19, 2017
The hate speech rally in Boston has about 100 white supremacists and TWENTY THOUSAND peaceful protestors…pic.twitter.com/bjaRqVWN4Q
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) August 19, 2017
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