Boston Free Speech rally
The Boston Free Speech rally took place at the Boston Common on August 19, 2017. The organizers and participants were characterized as adherents of the alt-lite, a loosely organized right-wing political movement. Around 50 people attended the rally, and they were met by tens of thousands of counter-protesters. The rally was organized by John Medlar and others in the Boston Free Speech Coalition. It was intended to feature Kyle Chapman, Joe Biggs, Shiva Ayyadurai, and Samson Racioppi as speakers, although the rally ended before speeches were made.
Planning
The rally originally advertised speakers including Augustus Sol Invictus, Gavin McInnes, Cassandra Fairbanks, and Joe Biggs. The city planned for around 500 police officers to be present for the event.
The rally ended early, and all rally attendees left the Parkman Bandstand by 1:00 pm. Samson Racioppi, who was scheduled to speak, said "I really think it was supposed to be a good event by the organizers, but it kind of fell apart."
The rally drew only a handful of attendees, while between 30,000 and 40,000 people participated in the counter-protest. The event was largely peaceful, with no injuries reported as of the afternoon of August 19. 33 people were arrested, largely for disorderly conduct. There were a few arrests for assaults on police officers. During a news conference in the afternoon of August 19, Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans said that rocks and bottles filled with urine had been thrown at police officers.<ref name=":2" />
Planning
The rally originally advertised speakers including Augustus Sol Invictus, Gavin McInnes, Cassandra Fairbanks, and Joe Biggs. The city planned for around 500 police officers to be present for the event.
The rally ended early, and all rally attendees left the Parkman Bandstand by 1:00 pm. Samson Racioppi, who was scheduled to speak, said "I really think it was supposed to be a good event by the organizers, but it kind of fell apart."
The rally drew only a handful of attendees, while between 30,000 and 40,000 people participated in the counter-protest. The event was largely peaceful, with no injuries reported as of the afternoon of August 19. 33 people were arrested, largely for disorderly conduct. There were a few arrests for assaults on police officers. During a news conference in the afternoon of August 19, Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans said that rocks and bottles filled with urine had been thrown at police officers.<ref name=":2" />
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