WATCH LIVE: Boston Free Speech Rally and Counter-Protests LIVE STREAM
There is a Free Speech Rally taking place in Boston today, a week after the rally in Charlottesville.
A Facebook page promoting the rally posted earlier this week that this event is “in no way affiliated with the Charlottesville rally”:
While we maintain that every individual is entitled to their freedom of speech and defend that basic human right, we will not be offering our platform to racism or bigotry. We denounce the politics of supremacy and violence. We denounce the actions, activities, and tactics of the so-called Antifa movement. We denounce the normalization of political violence…
There is a lot of misinformation in the media slandering our name by likening our organization to those that ran the Charlottesville rally. THIS COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! “I can tell you the march we had in May…That group pulled a permit, they worked very well with us” as stated by Boston Police Commissioner William Evans in a press conference Monday (8/14/17)
A lot of counter-protesters will be showing up as well, and there is concern among local officials about violence breaking out.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and the Boston Police Department have asked that everyone marching today be respectful and peaceful:
I ask everyone to be peaceful today and respect our City. Love, not hate. We stand together against intolerance.
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) August 19, 2017
We will not tolerate violence or property damage of any kind. If you'll be at the Common today, read our advisory: https://t.co/wFiZX0YA9R
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) August 19, 2017
To all attending tomorrow's rally on Boston Common, let's make sure that respectful & responsible behavior rule the day. #RESPECT
— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) August 18, 2017
#REMINDER: To all attending today's rally, please know sticks, flag poles or anything that could be used as a weapon will be confiscated.
— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) August 19, 2017
You can watch live coverage from Right Side Broadcasting above, and from CNN below:
[image via CBS Boston / screengrab]
