Editor’s note: This post has been updated to include more information about the protests that took place in Boston on Aug. 19. You can find more of our coverage of the rest of the day’s events here.
The “Free Speech Rally” held on Boston Common produced few fireworks on Saturday as police were able to by and large keep those attending the rally away from counter protestors who converged on Boston to take stand against what some believe was a front for racism and bigotry. About 40,000 people took part in the counter protest, which was mostly peaceful as people walked through the streets demanding equality and denouncing white supremacists. The rally ended early, and officers wound up escorting the participants to police wagons parked near the common. Only a few dozen people out of tens of thousands were arrested throughout the entire day.
However, that didn’t mean the day ended quietly. Scores of counter protestors — including those affiliated with Black Lives Matter and “antifa,” a left-wing antifascist group, among others — spilled into the streets and clashed with police. Some of the counter protestors seemed frustrated with the police for protecting the “Free Speech” group. Around 3:30 p.m., they began blocking police on Tremont, chanting “Whose streets? Our streets!” Two of our reporters heard some people scream “Nazi escorts” at police.
About an hour later, a few of the protestors were fighting with police near the Downtown Crossing T stop, where our reporters found pockets of “total chaos.” Bottles were being thrown at officers who began detaining more people. Some were reporting being pepper sprayed by law enforcement. WGBH News’ Craig LeMoult was there and captured several videos of the interactions. We’ve tried to edit out any profanity.
As a crowd begins to gather, protestors yell that the police should release the person they are detaining.
In the video below, police struggle to control a man while onlookers videoed the incident.
In this video, a woman screams, “Let him go. ... He cannot breathe.”
Police try to get the protestors to back up, but the physical contact isn’t well received.
More shoving occurs between the police and protestors.
After things calm down a bit, Boston Police Superintendent-in-Chief William Gross enters the crowd and speaks with protesters in a way that seems intended to defuse things a bit. He says he’s proud of the protesters for standing up to hatred and bigotry, and calls today a victory, urging protesters to end the day on a positive note.
